Attendance at Religious Services as a Moderator of the Work Stress–depression Relationship

This study examined whether religious service attendance moderates the relationship between work-related stress and depressive symptoms among U.S. adults. Using 2018 General Social Survey data (N = 673), I tested a moderation model. Work stress, religious attendance, and depression were assessed using single-item measures. Multiple regression indicated work stress was positively associated with depression (B = .327, p < .001), whereas religious attendance was negatively associated (B = −.057, p < .001). The interaction between work stress and religious attendance was significant (B = −.047, p = .001), explaining an additional 1.5% of variance. Simple slopes analyses revealed the stress–depression link was nonsignificant among individuals attending services weekly or more. Findings suggest religious attendance may buffer stress effects on mental health. Limitations include cross-sectional design, single-item measures, and lack of confounder control. Future research should use longitudinal designs, validated scales, and cross-cultural samples to clarify causal pathways and generalizability.