J Am Coll Health. 2024 Nov 27:1-6. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2024.2427066. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The current study explored the relationships of religiosity and coping behaviors on the perceived mental health of undergraduate African American (AA) college students enrolled at a large public university in the Southern United States. Methods: We used a cross-sectional survey design. AA and/or African descent adult college participants (n = 131) were recruited from an online chat group (ie, GroupMe) and completed the Brief-COPE, a demographic questionnaire, and a single-item mental health tool. Data analyses employing descriptive statistics and correlational analyses examined relationships between variables. Results: There was a positive correlation between increased religious activity and overall mental health. Those who specified their religion as “other” had a lower total mental health score than those with an identified religion. Conclusions: Findings underscore the importance of supportive interventions that account for religious beliefs and activities on overall mental health outcomes for undergraduate AA college students in the South.
PMID:39602177 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2024.2427066
