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Health benefits of religion among Black and White older adults? Race, religiosity, and C-reactive protein

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  • Ferraro, Kenneth F.
  • Kim, Seoyoun

Abstract

The study investigates potential health benefits of religiosity to protect against chronic inflammation associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The study uses longitudinal data from a representative survey of adults 57–85 years old at the beginning of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Linear regression models were used to analyze the association between religiosity, as measured by affiliation, attendance, and having a clergy confidant, and logged values of C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration (mg/L). Although religious attendance was not related to CRP among the White respondents, attendance was associated with lower CRP—and change in CRP over time—among the Black respondents. There was no evidence that religious affiliation alone had any health benefit. The study provides evidence of the salutary effects of religious engagement on chronic inflammation among older adults, especially for Black Americans, which may be useful in reducing the prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

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  • Ferraro, Kenneth F. & Kim, Seoyoun, 2014. "Health benefits of religion among Black and White older adults? Race, religiosity, and C-reactive protein," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 92-99.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:120:y:2014:i:c:p:92-99
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.08.030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yeager, D.M. & Glei, Dana A. & Au, Melanie & Lin, Hui-Sheng & Sloan, Richard P. & Weinstein, Maxine, 2006. "Religious involvement and health outcomes among older persons in Taiwan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(8), pages 2228-2241, October.
    2. Pamela Herd & Amelia Karraker & Elliot Friedman, 2012. "The Social Patterns of a Biological Risk Factor for Disease: Race, Gender, Socioeconomic Position, and C-reactive Protein," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 67(4), pages 503-513.
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    5. Sharon R. Williams & Thomas W. McDade, 2009. "The Use of Dried Blood Spot Sampling in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 64(suppl_1), pages 131-136.
    6. Heckman, James, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
    7. Neal Krause, 2002. "Church-Based Social Support and Health in Old Age," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 57(6), pages 332-347.
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    1. Hill, Terrence D. & Ellison, Christopher G. & Burdette, Amy M. & Taylor, John & Friedman, Katherine L., 2016. "Dimensions of religious involvement and leukocyte telomere length," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 168-175.
    2. Kelcie D. Willis & Tamara Nelson & Oswaldo Moreno, 2019. "Death Anxiety, Religious Doubt, and Depressive Symptoms across Race in Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Marino A Bruce & David Martins & Kenrik Duru & Bettina M Beech & Mario Sims & Nina Harawa & Roberto Vargas & Dulcie Kermah & Susanne B Nicholas & Arleen Brown & Keith C Norris, 2017. "Church attendance, allostatic load and mortality in middle aged adults," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-14, May.

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