Informal Support From Black Churches and the Well-Being of Elderly Blacks

Abstract

This paper explores the type of support black churches and families provide, and how that support relates to the well-being of elderly blacks. Findings indicate that the family network is perceived as more supportive than the church network, but that church support contributes to feelings of well-being. Perceptions of support from the churches and not the spiritual aspects of religion or involvement in organized religious activities were associated with well-being.

Perceptions of Weil-Being Among the Older Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Populations in the United States

“…Religious attendance (beta = .191) had the largest net effect on perceptions of well-being among the participants, indicating that older people in the United States who are active in religious affairs are also more likely to be physically and mentally healthy and to express greater life satisfaction. This finding confirms those in earlier studies (Edwards & Klemmack, 1973;Palmore & Luikart, 1972;Pihlblad & Adams, 1972;Pihlblad & McNamara, 1965;Rowles, 1983;Walls & Zarit, 1991). After religious attendance, financial status (beta = .175), marital status (beta = .155), education (beta = .136), and race (beta = .115) were the best predictors of perceptions of well-being.…”

The effects of social support on health, well-being and management of diabetes mellitus: a black South African perspective

“…These findings also substantiated previous research on the relationship between support, health, well-being and ethnicity (Shenkel et al 1985;Schwartz et al 1986;Brown & Gary 1987;Littlefield et al 1990;Mengel et al 1990;Belgrave 1991;Walls & Zarit 1991;Belgrave & Lewis 1994;Anderson et al 1996;Coates & Boore 1998;Rubin 2000;Pouwer et al 2001). For African-Americans, social support has been found to promote health and well-being (Brown & Gary 1987), assist with adjustment to disability (Belgrave 1991), play a key role in chronic disease management (Belgrave & Lewis 1994) and maintain well-being among the elderly (Walls & Zarit 1991).…”

Effects of Religion and Purpose in Life on Elders' Subjective Well-Being and Attitudes Toward Death

“…In addition, involvement in religious activities might offer social support, a positive influence on life style and marriage, and an available interpretation of the meaning of life events (Dull & Skokan, 1995;Imamoglu, 1999;Koenig, McCullough, & Larson, 2001;Levin, 1994;Neill & Kahn, 1999;Strawbridge, Cohen, Shema, & Kaplan, 1997). Moreover, not all studies report a significant positive association between religious involvement and well-being in old age (Koenig, McCullough, & Larson, 2001;Koenig et al, 1997;Walls & Zarit, 1991), whereas others find a reduced effect of religion on well-being when the effect of meaning in life is controlled .…”

“…Those results might explain why some studies find contradictory or inconclusive effects of religious involvement on well-being in old age (Koenig, McCullough, & Larson, 2001;Koenig et al, 1997;Walls & Zarit, 1991). NOTES 1.…”