Health Disparities in Nonreligious and Religious Older Adults in the United States: A Descriptive Epidemiology of 16 Common Chronic Conditions

Abstract

In this paper, we compute prevalence estimates for nonreligious and religious people in relation to 16 common chronic conditions in contemporary American society. Using survey data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, we speak to current debates concerning potential relationships between religion, nonreligion and health in older adult populations with two key findings. First, we show no consistent relationships between religion or nonreligion and chronic condition prevalence. Second, we demonstrate race, sex, and class variations within nonreligious people's health outcomes consistent with patterns noted in previous analyses of religious populations. In conclusion, we draw out implications for future research concerning the importance of (1) using caution when interpreting correlations between religion (i.e., a privileged social location) and health; (2) developing intersectional approaches to religion, nonreligion, and health; and (3) building a diverse base of scholarship concerning nonreligion and health.

Longitudinal Associations of Religiosity and Physical Function in Older Irish Adults

“…Studies looking at affiliation have often found that being nonaffiliated is not associated with self-reported measures of health. [31][32][33] Studies that differentiated between different types of nonaffiliation (atheists, agnostics, nonreligious, etc) found that these effects are complex, often with some nonaffiliated groups having better health outcomes than other nonaffiliates and the religiously affiliated. 31,32,34,35 Recent studies using European population data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) found that religious education and participation in a religious organization are associated with lower rates of noncommunicable diseases, disabilities, depressive symptoms, health behaviors, and poor self-rated health.…”

“…That scores on physical function measures do not differ by religious affiliation is in line with the literature on religious affiliation and health. Studies looking at affiliation have often found that being nonaffiliated is not associated with self‐reported measures of health . Studies that differentiated between different types of nonaffiliation (atheists, agnostics, nonreligious, etc) found that these effects are complex, often with some nonaffiliated groups having better health outcomes than other nonaffiliates and the religiously affiliated …”