Terrence D Hill1, Sunshine M Rote2, Christopher G Ellison3, Amy M Burdette4. 1. The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA terrence.hill@soc.utah.edu. 2. University of Louisville, USA. 3. University of Texas at San Antonio, USA. 4. Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study explores the role of religious attendance across a wide range of biological markers. METHOD: The data are drawn from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project to assess continuous and categorical biomarker specifications. RESULTS: Across specifications, higher levels of attendance are associated with lower levels of pulse rate and overall allostatic load. Depending on the specification, higher levels of attendance are also associated with lower levels of body mass, diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, and Epstein-Barr virus. Attendance is unrelated to dehydroepiandrosterone, systolic blood pressure, and glycosylated hemoglobin across specifications. DISCUSSION: The study confirms that religious attendance is associated with healthier biological functioning in later life. Additional research is needed to verify these patterns with other data sources and to test viable mediators of the association between religious attendance and biological risk.
OBJECTIVE: This study explores the role of religious attendance across a wide range of biological markers. METHOD: The data are drawn from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project to assess continuous and categorical biomarker specifications. RESULTS: Across specifications, higher levels of attendance are associated with lower levels of pulse rate and overall allostatic load. Depending on the specification, higher levels of attendance are also associated with lower levels of body mass, diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, and Epstein-Barr virus. Attendance is unrelated to dehydroepiandrosterone, systolic blood pressure, and glycosylated hemoglobin across specifications. DISCUSSION: The study confirms that religious attendance is associated with healthier biological functioning in later life. Additional research is needed to verify these patterns with other data sources and to test viable mediators of the association between religious attendance and biological risk.
Authors: Keisha L Bentley-Edwards; Loneke T Blackman Carr; Paul A Robbins; Eugenia Conde; Khaing Zaw; William A Darity Journal: J Relig Health Date: 2020-12
Authors: Crystal L Park; Kevin S Masters; John M Salsman; Amy Wachholtz; Andrea D Clements; Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher; Kelly Trevino; Danielle M Wischenka Journal: J Behav Med Date: 2016-06-24