Wherever I went (writes Oliver James) I found that religion seems to be a powerful vaccine [against the 'Affluenza virus'].  I should not have been surprised: because the scientific evidence has long been there: much to the consternation of social scientists, on average, regular churchgoers suffer less depression or unhappiness than unbelievers.  This is regardless of the kind of religion, or of the nationality, gender, age, social class or ethnic background of the believer.

Almost by definition, religious people are less likely to be materialistic and to have Virus goals or motivations and more likely to be preoccupied with things spiritual.  One study, of 860 young American adults, showed this very clearly.  Those with materialistic values, such as wanting money or prestige, were far less likely to be religious, and they were unhalpier, drank and smoked more, and, in the case of the women, were at greater risk of eating disorders.  Compared with non-believers, the only sort of religious people who are not protected against depression are the ones whose involvement in faith is guided by self-seeking ends (known as 'extrinsic religious orientation'), seeing belief as an investment, such as hoping that prayer would be instrumental in making them successful in work or love. 

When such people think badly of others, seeing them as malevolant or envious, and if they use religious beliefs like magic as a way of coping with their perceived enemies or to deal with stress, they are as susceptible to depression as non-believers. (from page 20)