Religion and Mental Health: Is the Relationship Causal? by Tyler J. VanderWeele [Duke University's Monthly Spirituality and Health Research Seminar]

April 22, 2021

Join Tyler J. VanderWeele speak at Duke University’s Monthly Spirituality and Health Research Seminar

Topic: Religion and Mental Health: Is the Relationship Causal?

Time: April 27, 2021 12:00-1:00 noon Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Zoom link: https://duke.zoom.us/j/94900515742?pwd=QmpWYlp0SHV6NXc4Mk9MZE04UkZ5Zz09

Meeting ID: 949 0051 5742
Passcode: 699597

Summary: The presentation will consider associations between religious service attendance and subsequent depression, suicide, and anxiety using data from several large longitudinal cohort studies. Critical attention will be given to the question of whether the associations provide evidence for causal relationships.  Methodological and statistical challenges will be discussed including study design, the possibility of reverse causation, approaches to assessing mechanisms, and potential robustness to confounding. Discussion will be given to the public health and clinical implications of the research.