Alcohol-use problems in young black adults: Effects of religiosity, social resources, and mental health

Objective: Problems with alcohol remain a serious public health concern despite decreased use among some populations. Here we examine the relationship between alcohol problems and religiosity, hypothesizing that social resources may mediate this relationship. Method: Using data from a longitudinal cohort study of a black community population (N = 1,242) followed from age 6 to 32, analysis of moment structures (AMOS) multiple regression analyses were used to examine the association of religious involvement and alcohol-use problems, taking into account mediators, moderators, or both. Results: Findings from this study support and extend the current literature that being male, having a major depressive disorder, completing fewer years of education, being unemployed, moving more frequently, and not attending church at least monthly are associated with serious problems with alcohol use in blacks. Those who were depressed and attended church frequently were no more likely to have alcohol problems than those who were not depressed. However, depression was strongly associated with alcohol problems for those who did not attend church frequently. Conclusions: Frequency of church attendance was associated with fewer alcohol problems, and this relationship was moderated by depression. Other measures of religiosity were not significantly related to alcohol problems, and social resources did not mediate the relationship between alcohol problems and religiosity.