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Frequent attendance at religious services and mortality over 28 years

Author

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  • Strawbridge, W.J.
  • Cohen, R.D.
  • Shema, S.J.
  • Kaplan, G.A.

Abstract

Objectives. This study analyzed the long-term association between religious attendance anti mortality to determine whether the association is explained by improvements in health practices and social connections for frequent attenders. Methods. The association between frequent attendance and mortality over 28 years for 5286 Alameda County Study respondents was examined. Logistic regression models analyzed associations between attendance and subsequent improvements in health practices and social connections. Results. Frequent attenders had lower mortality rates than infrequent attenders (relative hazard [RH] = 0.64: 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.53, 0.77). Results were stronger for females. Health adjustments had little impact, but adjustments for social connections and health practices reduced the relationship (RH = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.64, 0.93). During follow-up, frequent attenders were more likely to stop smoking. Increase exercising, increase social contacts, and stay married. Conclusions. Lower mortality rates for frequent religious attenders are partly explained by improved health practices, increased social contacts, and more stable marriages occurring in conjunction with attendance. The mechanisms by which these changes occur have broad intervention implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Strawbridge, W.J. & Cohen, R.D. & Shema, S.J. & Kaplan, G.A., 1997. "Frequent attendance at religious services and mortality over 28 years," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(6), pages 957-961.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1997:87:6:957-961_5
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    Cited by:

    1. Maselko, Joanna & Kubzansky, Laura D., 2006. "Gender differences in religious practices, spiritual experiences and health: Results from the US General Social Survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(11), pages 2848-2860, June.
    2. Janice Bell Meisenhelder & Emily N. Chandler, 2000. "Faith, Prayer, and Health Outcomes in Elderly Native Americans," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 9(2), pages 191-203, May.
    3. Bruce Headey & Ruud Muffels, 2016. "Towards a Theory of Life Satisfaction: Accounting for Stability, Change and Volatility in 25-Year Life Trajectories in Germany," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 864, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    4. Bruce Headey & Ruud Muffels, 2018. "A Theory of Life Satisfaction Dynamics: Stability, Change and Volatility in 25-Year Life Trajectories in Germany," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 140(2), pages 837-866, November.
    5. Jon Anson, 2004. "The Migrant Mortality Advantage: A 70 Month Follow-up of the Brussels Population," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 20(3), pages 191-218, September.
    6. Wilson, Fernando A. & Araz, Ozgur M. & Thompson, Ronald W. & Ringle, Jay L. & Mason, W. Alex & Stimpson, Jim P., 2016. "A decision support tool to determine cost-to-benefit of a family-centered in-home program for at-risk adolescents," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 43-49.
    7. Maryam Dilmaghani, 2021. "Deep-Level Religious Diversity and Work-Life Balance Satisfaction in Canada," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(1), pages 315-350, February.
    8. Schultz, Jennifer & O'Brien, A. Maureen & Tadesse, Bedassa, 2008. "Social capital and self-rated health: Results from the US 2006 social capital survey of one community," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 606-617, August.
    9. O'Reilly, Dermot & Rosato, Michael, 2008. "Religious affiliation and mortality in Northern Ireland: Beyond Catholic and Protestant," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(7), pages 1637-1645, April.
    10. Jon Anson, 2003. "Sex Differences in Mortality at the Local Level: An Analysis of Belgian Municipalities," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 19(1), pages 1-28, March.
    11. 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.
    12. Bruce Headey & Jongsay Yong, 2019. "Happiness and Longevity: Unhappy People Die Young, Otherwise Happiness Probably Makes No Difference," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 142(2), pages 713-732, April.
    13. Mindaugas Sinkevicius, 2016. "Intention To Purchase Alcohol By Adults In The Country In Transition: The Effects Of Health Consciousness, Self-Efficacy And Religion Importance," Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies, Faculty of Economics, Vilnius University, vol. 7(2).
    14. la Cour, Peter & Avlund, Kirsten & Schultz-Larsen, Kirsten, 2006. "Religion and survival in a secular region. A twenty year follow-up of 734 Danish adults born in 1914," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(1), pages 157-164, January.
    15. Ray M. Merrill, 2004. "Life expectancy among LDS and Non-LDS in Utah," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 10(3), pages 61-82.
    16. Yi Zeng & James W. Vaupel, 2003. "Association of late childbearing with healthy longevity among the oldest-old in China," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2003-020, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    17. Tariq Jalees & Ernest C de Run, 2014. "Body Image of Pakistani Consumers," Journal of Management Sciences, Geist Science, Iqra University, Faculty of Business Administration, vol. 1(1), pages 16-34, March.
    18. Yingying Sun & Yue Zhang, 2019. "Who Is Happier in China? Exploring Determinant Factors Using Religion as a Moderator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-17, November.

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