Resiliency in relation to stress and depression among religious men and women at midlife

This study investigates the levels of resiliency in relation to stress and depression among religious men and women at midlife. It examines if there is significant difference between the two groups with respect to their levels of these factors. It further determines as a whole, the relationship between resiliency, stress and depression of the midlifers.Thirty religious men and thirty religious women, with an age range of 35-55, participated in this study. Standardized tests such as Religious Resiliency Inventory (RRI), Stress Level Inventory (SLI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Interview were used as instruments in this descriptive-correlational-comparative research. For the statistical analysis, frequency, percentage, means and standard deviations were computed to determine the levels of resiliency, stress and deviation. Pearson r was used at .05 level of significance to examine the relationship between stress, depression, and resiliency among the midlifers. One-way Anova for independent samples was employed at .05 level of significance to determine the significant difference between religious men and women in terms of their levels of resiliency, stress and depression. Interview was conducted among selected 20 religious men and women of high and low resiliency to identify the steps to deal with their stress and depression and to know the perceived factors contributing to their resiliency.The study yielded the following results: both religious men and women midlifers possess average levels of resiliency. They are rarely stressed and experience normal levels of depression. No significant difference was found between the two groups in their levels of stress and depression but religious men significantly differed from women in their levels of resiliency. A significant moderate positive relationship between stress and depression and a moderate negative relationship between stress and resiliency and between depression and resiliency were observed among the religious. Commonalities and differences were identified between high and low resilient religious midlifers in their attempt to deal with their stress and depression and in the perceived factors contributing to their resiliency.