ABSTRACT. Examined the association between religious involvement and depression in older Dutch citizens, focusing on models of the mechanism in which religious involvement impacts other factors related to depression. Ss were 2,817 older adults aged 55-85 yrs living in the community who participated in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and religious involvement was assessed using items on frequency of church attendance and strength of church affiliation. Further data were collected on physical health, size of social network, social support, sense of mastery, and self-esteem. As in North American studies, religious involvement appeared to be inversely associated with depression, both on symptom and syndrome levels. Controlling for sociodemographics, physical impairment and network support did not substantially affect this association, particularly among 75-85 yr old Ss. The inverse association between religious involvement and depression was not selectively more pronounced among older people with physical impairments. However, the association appeared to be most specific for Ss with a small social network and those with a low sense of mastery.
