Mental Health and Religious Attendance: Does the Association Differ for Asian Americans?

Attendance at religious services is a consistent predictor of positive mental health outcomes, though our findings suggest this may not hold for all racial-ethnic groups. Using data from the 2022 Cooperative Election Study (N = 57,754), this study examines how the relationship between religious attendance and self-rated mental health varies across racial-ethnic groups in the United States, with a focus on Asian Americans. Findings reveal that religious attendance is significantly associated with better mental health for White, Black, and Hispanic Americans, but not for Asian Americans. The positive association is strongest for Blacks, followed by Whites and Hispanics, while Asians show no significant relationship. We suggest that the dual-minority status of religious Asian Americans (as religious minorities within their co-ethnic group, and ethnic minorities in their religious group) could potentially underlie this null association. Findings highlight the importance of considering racial-ethnic differences when studying the mental health benefits of religious participation.