Fruehwirth, J., Iyer, S. and Zhang, A.

Religion and Depression in Adolescence

Journal of Political Economy

Vol. 127 no. 3 pp. 1178-1209 (2019)

Abstract: Depression is the leading cause of illness and disability in adolescence. Many studies show a correlation between religiosity and mental health, yet the question remains whether the relationship is causal. We exploit within-school variation in adolescents’ peers to deal with selection into religiosity. We find robust effects of religiosity on depression that are stronger for the most depressed. These effects are not driven by the school social context; depression spreads among close friends rather than through broader peer groups that affect religiosity. Exploration of mechanisms suggests that religiosity buffers against stressors in ways that school activities and friendships do not.

Author links: Sriya Iyer  

Publisher's Link: https://doi.org/10.1086/701425

Cambridge Working Paper in Economics Version of Paper: Religion and Depression in Adolescence, Cooley Fruehwirth, J., Iyer, S. and Zhang, A., (2016)