Neal Krause1. 1. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA. nkrause@umich.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This article studies whether there are age variations in the relationships between having a close companion friend at church, health, and outpatient physician visits. METHOD: The data come from two waves of interviews in a nationwide survey of older adults. These data are analyzed with ordinary least squares multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The findings reveal that older people who have a close companion friend in the place where they worship are more likely to rate their health in a favorable way over time. However, these health-related benefits emerge only among the oldest-old study participants. The data results further indicate that having a close friend at church is associated with fewer outpatient physician visits over time, but once again, the results are observed only among the oldest old. DISCUSSION: The results from this study provide preliminary insight into one way in which spiraling health care costs may eventually be curtailed.
OBJECTIVE: This article studies whether there are age variations in the relationships between having a close companion friend at church, health, and outpatient physician visits. METHOD: The data come from two waves of interviews in a nationwide survey of older adults. These data are analyzed with ordinary least squares multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The findings reveal that older people who have a close companion friend in the place where they worship are more likely to rate their health in a favorable way over time. However, these health-related benefits emerge only among the oldest-old study participants. The data results further indicate that having a close friend at church is associated with fewer outpatient physician visits over time, but once again, the results are observed only among the oldest old. DISCUSSION: The results from this study provide preliminary insight into one way in which spiraling health care costs may eventually be curtailed.
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