Gender Differences in the Roles of Religion and Locus of Control on Alcohol Use and Smoking Among African Americans

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective: Spiritual health locus of control reflects a person's beliefs about the role of a higher power in one's health and can take an active or a passive perspective. The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating role of active and passive spiritual health locus of control beliefs on select health risk behaviors-alcohol use and smoking-in a national sample of African Americans. Method: A national U.S. probability sample of study participants (N = 2,370; 906 men; 1,464 women) completed a telephone survey assessing religious involvement, active and passive spiritual health locus of control beliefs, and alcohol consumption and smoking status. Because of previous research suggesting gender-specific associations among these variables, moderation analyses were conducted separately for men and women. Results: For women, higher religious behaviors were associated with less alcohol use, and this effect was more pronounced among those high in active spiritual health locus of control. For men, the combination of lower religious beliefs and higher passive spiritual health locus of control was associated with more alcohol consumption and more days of consuming five or more alcoholic drinks. No moderation effects were found for smoking. Conclusions: This study identified unique patterns of religious involvement and spiritual health locus of control beliefs that are associated with alcohol use, including heavy drinking, among African Americans. These findings have implications for pastoral counseling and other faith-based approaches for addressing heavy drinking in African Americans. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 76, 482-492, 2015)

Interactions Between Alcohol Metabolism Genes and Religious Involvement in Association With Maximum Drinks and Alcohol Dependence Symptoms

“…We were not able to examine the role of spirituality. Earlier studies indicate that greater religious involvement in combination with strong spiritual beliefs provides strong protection against drinking (Brechting et al, 2010;Hodge et al, 2007;Holt et al, 2015). In addition, we investigated two phenotypes (i.e., maximum drinks and alcohol dependence symptoms), and our findings were reasonably consistent across both traits.…”

“…Using prayer to cope, like services attendance, is a religious practice that is inversely associated with alcoholism (Borders et al, 2010). The combination of having both strong spiritual beliefs and greater religious involvement appears to provide a particularly strong protection against heavy drinking (Brechting et al, 2010;Hodge et al, 2007;Holt et al, 2015). In addition, there are some differences in religious practices by racial/ ethnic groups.…”

The relationship between religious beliefs and behaviours and changes in Spiritual Health Locus of Control over time in a national sample of African-Americans

“…Researchers have speculated about the influence of people’s religiosity and their perceived control over health outcomes (Gonnerman, Lutz, Yehieli, & Meisinger, 2008; Holt, Roth, Huang, & Clark, 2015; Karvinen & Carr, 2014; Moore, 2014; Ryan & Francis, 2012). However, most of the extant research is cross-sectional and does not examine changes in perception of control over time.…”

“…In a study of African American church parishioners’ health, Holt, Lewellyn, & Rathweg (2005) found that SHLOC was mentioned as important to the relationship between religiosity and health. Holt, Roth, Huang, and Clark (2015) suggest that gender differences may be important, finding that among African American women, religious behaviors were associated with lower alcohol use and this effect was more pronounced among those with a higher active SHLOC. However, they found that among African American men, the combination of lower religious beliefs and higher passive SHLOC was associated with higher alcohol consumption.…”

“…While we do not know of any research on religiosity and changes in locus of control, we speculate that most churches teach a combination of “God-self collaboration” (active SHLOC) and “God in complete control” (passive SHLOC) regarding health issues, leading participants to report a combination of active and passive SHLOC beliefs. Given the evidence that both the patterns of religious involvement and the relationship between religious involvement and SHLOC differ by gender (Flannelly, Galek, Kytle, & Silton, 2010; Holt, Roth, Huang, & Clark, 2015), we also examined women and men separately but did not propose specific hypotheses.…”