Jeff Levin & Robert Joseph Taylor 
Religion in the Lives of African Americans [PDF ebook] 
Social, Psychological, and Health Perspectives

‘This is an outstanding book that provides the reader with an in-depth understanding of religion in the lives of African Americans. Both historical and empirical research findings provide a context for understanding religion in the lives of African Americans. Most importantly, this book highlights the role religion plays in affecting emotional and physical health processes and outcomes among African Americans. The contributions of this book to the discussion of religion in the social and behavioral sciences will last for years!’


                 –Peggye Dilworth-Anderson, Ph.D.,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill




‘This is a blockbuster of a book on black religion. Comprehensive, systematic, analytic, and very well written, it sets a new high water mark in the social scientific study of religion and life in the African American Community. It will be especially helpful in the teaching of undergraduate and graduate courses in African American history and culture.’


                                                            –Andrew Billingsley,
University of South Carolina



The religious faith of African Americans has many avenues of expression. Consequently, there has been a long-standing interest in the nature, patterns, and functions of religion in the lives of this particular ethnic group. African American religious life, in all its forms, is a vibrant, creative, resourceful testament to the power of faith to uplift and sustain in the face of prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion.




Religion in the Lives of African Americans: Social, Psychological, and Health Perspectives examines many broad issues including the structure and sociodemographic patterns of religious involvement; the relationship between religion and physical and mental health and well-being; the impact of church support and the use of ministers for personal issues; and the role of religion within specific subgroups of the African American population such as women and the elderly. Authors Robert Joseph Taylor, Linda M. Chatters, and Jeff Levin reflect upon current empirical research and derive conclusions from several wide-ranging national surveys, as well as a focus group study of religion and coping.




Features and Benefits:

• Empirical. Incorporates findings from a total of eight national surveys that contain representative cross-section samples of the adult Black population living in the continental U.S. Additionally, a focus group study conducted by the Program for Research on Black Americans at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, provides a rich source of qualitative information about the nature and functions of religion.


• Interdisciplinary. Although the primary points of view are sociological and psychological, the perspectives represented by the authors transcend disciplinary bounds.


• Pedagogical. Includes important data sources, tables, recommendations for further reading and resources, end of chapter summaries, and implications for future research that enhance student comprehension.

Recommended for students taking courses in racial and ethnic studies, multicultural and minority studies, black studies, religious studies, psychology, sociology, human development and family studies, gerontology, social work, public health, and nursing.

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Foreword – James S. Jackson

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction

Goals for the Book

Data Sources

Format and Scope of the Volume

Part I: Patterns of Religion

2. African American Religious Participation

Overview of Chapter

The Interface Between Religiosity and Spirituality

Models of Religious Involvement in Black Churches

Socio-Historical Role of the Church

Religious Denomination

Denominational Switching

Generational Differences in Religious Denomination

Conceptualization and Measurement of Religious Involvement

Structural Determinants of Religious Involvement

Profile of Religious Participation

Black-White Differences

Gender Differences

Age Differences

Marital Status Differences

Education and Income Differences

Regional and Urban-Rural Differences

Denominational Differences in Religious Participation

Physical Health Differences

Religious Participation Among Elderly Blacks

Religious Participation Among Blacks Adolescents

Religious Noninvolvement

Religious Artifacts

Religious Identity

Focus Group Findings

Prayer

Reading Religious Materials

Religious Programming

Meditation

Religious Participation in the Context of Work

Living in a Christ-Like Manner

Volunteerism as a Form of Religious Participation

Organized Religious Activities

Focus Group Summary

Chapter Summary and Conclusion

3. The Frequency and Importance of Prayer

Research on Prayer

Research on Prayer Among Black Americans

Requests for Prayer

Focus Group Findings

Communication and Relationship With God

God as Best Friend

Meditation and Prayer

Prayers of Thanksgiving

Prayers of Petition

Prayer as Intercession

Writing Down One′s Prayers

The Importance of Prayer

The Power of Prayer

Focus Group Summary

Chapter Summary and Conclusion

Part II: Functions of Religion

4. Prayer as a Source of Coping

Coping With Personal Problems

Prayer and Coping With Life Problems

Religious Coping and Caregiving

Religious Coping and Health and Illness

Harmful Effects of Religious Coping

Prayer and Coping Among Black Americans

Focus Group Findings

Prayer Is an Ongoing Coping Activity

Interpersonal Conflicts on the Job

Prayer Gives Strength, Wisdom, and Guidance

Prayer Reduces Stress

Spiritual Component of Prayer

Loving Your Enemies/Forgiveness

Power of Prayer

Focus Group Summary

Chapter Summary and Conclusion

5. Use of Ministers for Personal Problems

Clergy and Formal Support Systems

Clergy as a Coping Resource

Survey Data on the Use of Ministers

Focus Group Findings

Patterns and Circumstances of Using Ministers

Deciding to Forgo Clergy Help

Choosing to Disclose Difficult Problems

Focus Group Summary

Chapter Summary and Conclusion

6. Church Members as a Source of Social Support

Church-Based Informal Social Support

Family and Church Support

Profile of the Receipt of Support From Church Members

Focus Group Findings

Church Members Provide Instrumental and Emotional Support

Importance of Building Relationships With Church Members

Importance of Having Church Members Provide Support

Similarity Between Church Members and Family Members

Formal Programs in the Church

Reciprocal Relationships

Giving Help to Church Members

Difficulty in Giving and Receiving Help

Focus Group Summary

Chapter Summary and Conclusion

7. Negative Interaction Among Church Members

Research on Negative Interaction

Negative Interaction Among African Americans

Negative Interaction Among Church Members

Survey Findings on Negative Interaction Among Church Members

Focus Group Findings

Church Members, Like Family Members, Have Conflict

Gossip

Avoiding Gossip

Generational Differences

Conflict Over Special Programs and Board Meetings

Losing Church Members Because of Conflict

Avoiding Conflict

Feeling Unwelcome

Helping People Feel Welcome

Other Concerns

Problems in Church Do Not Inhibit Attendance and Participation

Focus Group Summary

Chapter Summary and Conclusion

Part III: Effects of Religion

8. Impact of Religion on Physical Health

Research on Religion and Health

Religion and Health in African Americans

Religion and Morbidity in Study Samples of Whites and Blacks

Religion and Morbidity in African American Study Samples

Religion and Mortality in African Americans

Religion, Race, and Health: Theoretical Considerations

9. Impact of Religion on Mental Health and Well-Being

Religion and Mental Health: Clinical and Population-Based Research

Religion, Aging, and Psychological Well-Being

Religion, Mental Health, and Well-Being in African Americans

Studies in Which Effects of Race Are Controlled

Religion and Mental-Health Outcomes

Religion and Psychological Well-Being

Studies That Investigate Racial Differences

African American Study Samples

Religion and Depressive Symptoms

Religion and Positive Well-Being

Religion, Race, and Mental Health: Directions for Future Research

10. Conclusions and Implications

Chapter Review and Implications

Current Research Projects

Appendix A: Data Sources

Appendix B: Multivariate Tables

Recommended Reading and Resource Guide

References

Author Index

Subject Index

About the Authors

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Linda M. Chatters, Ph.D. holds a joint position as Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior & Health Education at the School of Public Health and the School of Social Work. She is also a Faculty Associate with the Program for Research on Black Americans, Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. The major focus of Dr. Chatters′ research is the study of adult development and aging as it relates to the mental and physical health status and social functioning of older persons in a variety of social contexts (i.e., the family, church, and community). A particular emphasis of this work has been the investigation of various dimensions of religious involvement among the African American population. She is also interested in assessing the independent contributions of relevant religious, personal, and social status factors on well-being among elderly and non-elderly populations. She is Principal Investigator for the National Institute on Aging grant, ‘Church-based Assistance and Older Blacks.’ Dr. Chatters is the author of ‘Religion and health: Public health research and practice’ which appeared in the Annual Review of Public Health (2000).