Gender and Race Variations in the Intersection of Religious Involvement, Early Trauma, and Adult Health

Katia G Reinert; Jacquelyn C Campbell; Karen Bandeen-Roche; Phyllis Sharps; Jerry Lee

doi:10.1111/jnu.12144

Gender and Race Variations in the Intersection of Religious Involvement, Early Trauma, and Adult Health

J Nurs Scholarsh. 2015 Jul;47(4):318-27. doi: 10.1111/jnu.12144. Epub 2015 Jun 15.

Authors

Katia G Reinert¹, Jacquelyn C Campbell², Karen Bandeen-Roche³, Phyllis Sharps⁴, Jerry Lee⁵

Affiliations

¹ Kappa, Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.
² Anna D. Wolf Chair and Professor, Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Chair of the Dept. Biostatistics and Professor, Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁴ Associate Dean for Community and Global Programs and Professor, Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁵ Professor, Loma Linda School of Public Health, Loma Linda, CA, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine gender and race variations in regards to the influence of religious involvement (RI) as a moderator of the effects of early traumatic stress (ETS) on health-related quality of life among adult survivors of child abuse.

Design: A cross-sectional predictive design was used to study Seventh-day Adventist adults in North America (N = 10,283).

Methods: A secondary analysis of data collected via questionnaires was done using multiple regression.

Results: Data revealed that women had a significantly higher prevalence of any or all ETS subtypes, except for physical abuse prevalence, which was the same for both genders. Blacks reported a significantly higher prevalence of at least one ETS subtype than did Whites, except for neglect, where Whites had a higher prevalence. Exposure to at least one ETS subtype was associated with worse negative effect on mental health (B = -2.08, p < .0001 vs. B = -1.54, p < .0001) and physical health (B = -2.01, p < .0001 vs. B = -1.11, p < .0001) for women compared to men. Among those exposed to all ETS subtypes (n = 447), Whites had significant worse physical health, with White women having almost two times the negative effect on physical health (B = -4.50, p < .0001) than White men (B = -2.87, p < .05). As for RI moderation, based on tests of three-way interactions of race-RI-ETS, there were no associated differences. However, tests of three-way interactions of gender-RI-ETS showed a significant buffering effect. Among those with high levels of negative religious coping (RC), women exposed to ETS had significantly worse physical health (B = -1.28) than men.

Conclusions: Results give evidence of gender and racial differences on the magnitude of the ETS-health effect, as well as gender differences in ETS-health buffering by RC.

Clinical relevance: Findings suggest gender and racial differences must be considered when devising holistic nursing interventions for improving health outcomes of early trauma survivors.

Keywords: Adventists; Cultural diversity; child abuse; community health; culture; forgiveness; gender differences; gratitude; health disparities; mental health; neglect; public health; religious coping; religious involvement; spirituality; trauma; violence.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Black People / psychology*
Child
Child Abuse / psychology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Gender Identity
Health Status*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Quality of Life*
Regression Analysis
Religion*
Resilience, Psychological
Sex Factors
Stress, Psychological* / ethnology
Stress, Psychological* / psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States
White People / psychology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding