Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Mounting evidence consistently shows associations between religious service attendance and reduced mortality risk, yet research identifying mediators remains limited. Using prospective data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2014; n = 5,200 US adults), we evaluated a range of potential mediators. After robust control for confounders (demographic, health, health-behavior, and social factors), among positive psychological factors, we observed mediation through increased life satisfaction (5.27%; P ≤ 0.001) and possibly positive affect (1.52%; P = 0.06) but not optimism, mastery, or purpose. Among dimensions of psychological distress, we observed mediation through reductions in hopelessness (1.92%; P = 0.01), trait anger (1.98%; P = 0.03), state anger (2.23%; P = 0.03), and possibly loneliness (1.21%; P = 0.06), but not cynical hostility or negative affect, and some evidence that increased anxiety (-3.61%; P = 0.008) and possibly depressive symptoms (-1.14%; P = 0.05) increased mortality odds. Among social factors, we observed mediation through contact with friends (10.73%; P = 0.005) but not living with a spouse or contact with children or other family. Among health behaviors, we observed mediation through exercise (5.38%; P ≤ 0.001) and negative mediation through alcohol frequency (-2.55%; P = 0.03) and possibly body mass index (-2.34%; P = 0.08) but not smoking. These results highlight a range of mediators that might underlie the association between religious service attendance and reduced risk of mortality.
Source: American Journal of Epidemiology
DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwy211
Authors: Eric S Kim, Tyler J VanderWeele
Institution: Harvard University
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2892496469