Exposure to daily stressors has been shown to increase as individuals age. This study examines religious coping as a potential moderator of the relation between age and stress. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were used to address this question. Between 1994 and 2008, a sample of 90,000 students from grades 7-12 answered questions on their demographics, health, relationship status, and religious practices, among other characteristics. For this study, the focus was on the questions pertaining to religion, stress, and age. A positive simple correlation between age and stress was expected. However, religious coping was expected to be a significant moderator such that the positive association would only hold among those who employ fewer religious coping methods. Among those who employ more religious coping methods, the association between age and stress was expected to be negative. Results of this research could have important implications for adolescents because it would provide information about effective coping mechanisms to help decrease stress levels, which can be utilized by religious counselors, non-religious counselors, psychologists, and others in counseling adolescents. Ultimately, results might provide tools to prevent stress related diseases from surfacing in adulthood.
