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01-08-2019 | Original Paper

Religious Attendance and Biological Risk: A National Longitudinal Study of Older Adults

Authors: Hyungjun Suh, Terrence D. Hill, Harold G. Koenig

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 4/2019

Abstract

Although several studies suggest that religious involvement is associated with healthier biological functioning in later life, most of this work is cross-sectional. We extend previous research by employing a longitudinal design. Our analysis of Health and Retirement Study (2006/2010) data suggests that older adults who attended religious services weekly or more in 2006 tend to exhibit fewer high-risk biomarkers in 2010 and greater reductions in allostatic load over the 4-year study period than respondents who attended yearly or not at all. These patterns persisted with adjustments for baseline allostatic load and a range of background variables.

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Title: Religious Attendance and Biological Risk: A National Longitudinal Study of Older Adults
Authors: Hyungjun Suh
Terrence D. Hill
Harold G. Koenig
Publication date: 01-08-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 4/2019
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0721-0

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Religious Attendance and Biological Risk: A National Longitudinal Study of Older Adults

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