The Religion–Health Connection Among African Americans: What Is the Role of Social Capital? CHERYL L. HOLT 1 * , EDDIE M. CLARK 2 , MIN QI WANG 1 , BEVERLY ROSA WILLIAMS 3 and EMILY SCHULZ 4 1 School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, 2369 Public Health Building (255), College Park, MD 20742, USA 2 Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, 214 Shannon Hall, Saint Louis, MO 63013, USA 3 Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology/Geriatrics/Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, CH19 218K; 1530 3rd Ave. S Birmingham, AL 35294-2041, USA 4 Arizona School of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, A.T. Still University, 5850 E. Still Circle Mesa, AZ 85206, USA ABSTRACT Researchers have expressed growing interest in factors that may explain the relationship between religious involvement and health-related outcomes. Faith-based organizations are a significant institution in African American communities, both serving religious/spiritual needs and providing an important source of social capital. These communities often suffer a disproportionate burden of health conditions as well. The present study examined the role of social capital (social support, interconnectedness, and community participation) in the relationship between religious involvement (beliefs and behaviours) and physical and emotional functioning and depressive symptoms, among a national probability sample of African Americans (N = 803). Participants completed telephone interviews. We used structural equation modelling to test hypotheses based on the theoretical model. Results indicate that interconnectedness played a modest mediational role in the relationship between religious behaviours/participation and depressive symptoms. Interconnectedness was predictive of fewer depressive symptoms and marginally with better emotional functioning. Findings highlight the importance of trust in and commitment to one’s community for health and have implications for community-based health promotion initiatives. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key words: religion; social capital; African Americans; functioning; depression Research interest in the relationship between religious involvement and health has grown over the years (Koenig, King, & Carson, 2012; Levin, 2001). Religious involvement has been associated with a variety of physical and mental health outcomes as well as with *Correspondence to: Cheryl L. Holt, School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, 2369 School of Public Health (Building 255), College Park, MD 20742, USA. E-mail: cholt14@umd.edu Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology J. Community Appl. Soc. Psychol., (2014) Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/casp.2191 Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Accepted 23 January 2014