Religion As a Resource? Unpacking the Longitudinal Dynamics between Religiosity and Mental Health in Sub-Saharan Africa

We examined longitudinal associations between religiosity and mental health in sub-Saharan Africa using Bayesian continuous-time structural equation modeling. Higher religiosity predicted greater life satisfaction and lower substance use; within-person increases enhanced life satisfaction and reduced internalizing symptoms. These effects contrast with typically minimal findings in Western samples, highlighting cross-cultural differences.