Papers by Christopher Ellison
Sociological Inquiry, 2005
A number of studies over the years have reported that members of conservative Protestant churches... more A number of studies over the years have reported that members of conservative Protestant churches tend to be less tolerant-that is, reluctant to extend civil liberties-vis-à-vis homosexuals. This paper explores several possible explanations for this pattern. In particular, we identify key aspects of conservative Protestant religious values and worldviews that may contribute to this pattern, and relevant hypotheses are tested using data from the 1988 General Social Survey. Results highlight the role of biblical literalism, as well as specific beliefs about the public nature of morality and the implications of perceived immoral conduct for collective well-being. We discuss the implications of these findings for the understanding of contemporary conservative Protestantism, as well as for future research on the nexus of religion, politics, and democratic citizenship.
Religion and Attitudes Toward Family Planning Issues Among US Adults
Review of Religious Research
Although religion is an important influence on a variety of social attitudes, the relationship be... more Although religion is an important influence on a variety of social attitudes, the relationship between religion and views on family planning remains underexplored, especially in terms of attitudes relating to public policy. Using data from a nationally-representative survey (N = 1,500) fielded in 1998, we examine the influence of religious affiliation, subcultural identification, and attendance on three aspects of attitudes toward contraception in the public sphere. Specifically, we explore opinions regarding the public consequences of contraception and the responsibility for making contraception available as part of health care services in the United States. More frequent religious attendance is linked to less-approving opinions about contraception and less support for its provision by the US government and health insurers. Catholic affiliation is not consistently associated with the examined opinions, and we find mixed results for conservative Protestants. Including religious subc...
Marital relationships, like individuals, follow a developmental trajectory over time-with ups and... more Marital relationships, like individuals, follow a developmental trajectory over time-with ups and downs, crises and tragedies, and gains and losses. We work from a life course perspective and use growth curve analysis to look at trajectories of change in marital quality over time. Although the tendency is for marital quality to decline over time, some groups begin with much higher levels of marital quality than others. Moreover, a number of life course and contextual factors can accelerate or slow this path of change. Our findings point to the importance of considering the multi-dimensionality of time (e.g., age, marital duration, the passage of years) as well as family transitions (e.g., having children, emptying or refilling the nest) in creating the meanings and experiences of marriage over time.
The Association between Religiousness and Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults
Character strengths and deep connections following hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Spiritual and secular pathways to resistance among volunteers
ABSTRACT
The rapid growth of the Latino population in the United States has renewed interest in Latino fam... more The rapid growth of the Latino population in the United States has renewed interest in Latino family research. It has often been assumed that Catholicism is a key factor influencing Latinos' attitudes toward the family, despite the fact that more than one-third of Latinos are not Catholic. This paper uses data from the 2006 National Survey of Religion and Family Life, a survey of working-age adults (ages 18-59) in the lower 48 states, to explore the relationship between multiple dimensions of religiosity-denomination, church attendance, prayer, and beliefs about the Bibleand Latinos' attitudes regarding marriage, divorce, cohabitation, and casual sex. Compared with Catholics, evangelical Protestants tend to hold more conservative attitudes on family-related issues.
Black political participation revisited: A test of compensatory, ethnic community, and public arena models
Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 2015
The present study was specifically designed to examine the associations among religious commitmen... more The present study was specifically designed to examine the associations among religious commitment, belief in meaning and purpose in life, and psychiatric symptoms among the general public using data from the 2010 Baylor Religion Survey (BRS). The BRS obtained data from a nationwide sample of 1,714 U.S. adults, 1,450 of which are included in the current analyses. The central hypothesis of the study, based on identity theory, was that religious commitment would interact with belief in meaning and purpose in their net associations on psychiatric symptoms: general anxiety, social anxiety, paranoia, obsession, and compulsion. Specifically, it was hypothesized that believing life lacks meaning and purpose will have a more pernicious association among highly religious individuals, than it will among individuals who are less religious. Other hypotheses derived from previous research were also tested. The results confirm the central hypothesis of the study for 4 of the 5 classes of psychiatric symptoms. The results are discussed with respect to identity theory, evolutionary threat assessment systems (ETAS) theory, and the hostile world scenario.
Violence against women, 2007
The authors explored the relationship between religious involvement and intimate partner violence... more The authors explored the relationship between religious involvement and intimate partner violence by analyzing data from the first wave of the National Survey of Families and Households. They found that: (a) religious involvement is correlated with reduced levels of domestic violence; (b) levels of domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; (c) the effects of religious involvement on domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; and (d) religious involvement, specifically church attendance, protects against domestic violence, and this protective effect is stronger for African American men and women and for Hispanic men, groups that, for a variety of reasons, experience elevated risk for this type of violence.
The idea of being a Catholic country is quite widespread throughout the nation. What does it mean... more The idea of being a Catholic country is quite widespread throughout the nation. What does it mean to be Catholic in Brazil? Do Catholics follow the Catholic Doctrine? The objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between religion and religious involvement (measured by religious affiliation and service attendance) and opinions about abortion, sex between individuals who are not
Publishing in Academic Journals: Strategic Advice for Doctoral Students and Academic Mentors
The American Sociologist, 2015
The Dissertation Committee for Edward William Morris certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation
lib.utexas.edu
Page 1. Copyright by Edward William Morris 2003 Page 2. The Dissertation Committee for Edward Wil... more Page 1. Copyright by Edward William Morris 2003 Page 2. The Dissertation Committee for Edward William Morris certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: The Majority Minority: Academic Experiences of White Students in a Predominately ...
Data from the 2010 Baylor Religion Survey were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) to ... more Data from the 2010 Baylor Religion Survey were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) to test five hypotheses: (1) that religious commitment is positively related to belief in life-after-death; that belief in life-after-death is (2) positively related to belief in an equitable world, and (3) negatively related to belief in a cynical world; (4) that belief in a cynical world has a pernicious association with psychiatric symptoms; and (5) that belief in an equitable world has a salubrious association with psychiatric symptoms. As hypothesized, religious commitment was positively related to belief in lifeafter-death (b = .74). In turn, belief in life-after-death was negatively associated with belief in a cynical world (b = -.16) and positively associated with belief in an equitable world (b = .36), as hypothesized. SEM further confirmed that belief in a cynical world had a significant pernicious association with all five classes of psychiatric symptoms (b's = .11 to .30). Belief in an equitable world had a weaker and less consistent salubrious association with psychiatric symptoms. The results are discussed in the context of ETAS theory.
Methodologic Issues in Research on Religion and Health
Southern Medical Journal, 2004
This study examines several methodologic issues in research on religion and health, including the... more This study examines several methodologic issues in research on religion and health, including the measurement of the concept of religion, research designs, sampling, and statistical controls for assessing the "net" effects of religion on health outcomes. It briefly discusses differences in analytical perspectives that have contributed to the debate about the effects of religion on health. The authors review some of the methodologic problems of past research in this area of study and address what needs to be done to enhance the quality of the research. The authors conclude that the research methodology used in studies of religion and health has improved over time and that it continues to do so.
Mental Health Services in Faith Communities: The Role of Clergy in Black Churches
Social Work, 2000
A small but growing literature recognizes the varied roles that clergy play in identifying and ad... more A small but growing literature recognizes the varied roles that clergy play in identifying and addressing mental health needs in their congregations. Although the role of the clergy in mental health services delivery has not been studied extensively, a few investigations have attempted a systematic examination of this area. This article examines the research, highlighting available information with regard to the process by which mental health needs are identified and addressed by faith communities. Areas and issues where additional information is needed also are discussed. Other topics addressed include client characteristics and factors associated with the use of ministers for personal problems, the role of ministers in mental health services delivery, factors related to the development of church-based programs and service delivery systems, and models that link churches and formal services agencies. A concluding section describes barriers to and constraints against effective partnerships between churches, formal services agencies, and the broader practice of social work.
Social Science Quarterly, 2005
US religious congregations and the sponsorship of health-related programs
Social Science & Medicine, 2009
Despite consistent evidence that religious congregations provide health-related programs for thei... more Despite consistent evidence that religious congregations provide health-related programs for their members and residents of the local community, little is known about the distribution of congregation-based health programs across the United States. Using a nationally representative sample of US congregations (n=1230) we employ bivariate analysis and logistic regression to identify patterns in the sponsorship of health-related programs by religious congregations; we then propose and test various explanations for these observed patterns. Our findings contradict the impressions given by case studies and the program evaluation literature and suggest: a) that congregation-based health programs may not be serving the neediest communities; and b) that congregations are not taking advantage of mechanisms intended to facilitate the provision of health-related services by religious congregations.
Spiritual Struggles and Psychological Distress: Is There a Dark Side of Religion?
Social Indicators Research, 2010
Page 1. Spiritual Struggles and Psychological Distress: Is There a Dark Side of Religion? Christo... more Page 1. Spiritual Struggles and Psychological Distress: Is There a Dark Side of Religion? Christopher G. Ellison Jinwoo Lee Accepted: 3 December 2009 / Published online: 27 December 2009 Ó Springer Science+Business Media BV 2009 ...
Religious Homogeneity and Metropolitan Suicide Rates
Social Forces, 1997
Page 1. Religious Homogeneity and Metropolitan Suicide Rates* CHRISTOPHER G. ELLISON, University ... more Page 1. Religious Homogeneity and Metropolitan Suicide Rates* CHRISTOPHER G. ELLISON, University of Texas at Austin JEFFREY A. BURR, State University of New York at Buffalo PATRICIA L. McCALL, North Carolina ...
Does Religious Commitment Contribute to Individual Life Satisfaction?
Social Forces, 1989
... identified by George. However, there is evidence that personal health contributes significant... more ... identified by George. However, there is evidence that personal health contributes significantly to an overall measure of life satisfaction. Third, following previous research in this area (eg, Andrews & Withey 1976, pp. 118-19), we ...
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Papers by Christopher Ellison