Religiousness and Longitudinal Trajectories in Elders' Functional Status

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of religiousness on the trajectories of difficulties with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs) in community-dwelling older adults over a three-year period. Seven waves of data from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging were analyzed using a hierarchical linear modeling method. The study was based on the 784 participants who completed interviews every six months between December 1999 and February 2004. Frequent religious service attendance was associated with fewer ADL difficulties and IADL difficulties at baseline. Furthermore, religious service attendance predicted slower increases for frequent churchgoers and steeper increases for less frequent churchgoers in IADL difficulties, controlling for variables related to demographics and resources. Religious service attendance was independently associated with ADL and IADL difficulties cross-sectionally. However, significant protective effects of religious service attendance were identified longitudinally only for the IADL trajectory. Keywords religiousness; elderly; functional status; HLM The aim of this study was to examine the effect of religious involvement on the trajectories of community-dwelling elders' functional status. Factors that affect the trajectory of functional decline in community-dwelling elders are important because nearly 20% of older adults in the United States have one or more functional limitations (Federal Interagency Forum on AgingRelated Statistics 2004), and there are serious negative consequences from functional limitations for older adults and their families, including loss of independence and increased need for care. With the anticipated growth in the older population, the number of elders with limitations is expected to rise to 21 million by 2030 and 25 million by 2050 (Shirey and Summer 2000). Such increases will result in greater costs for Medicare and Medicaid and other publicly funded programs.Recent studies have demonstrated health benefits of religious involvement for older adults (Benjamins 2004;George, Ellison, and Larson 2002;Hill et al. 2005), with some studies © 2008 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.Please address correspondence to Nan Sook Park, School of Social Work, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0314; npark@bama.ua.edu.. The possible mechanisms in which religious involvement produces beneficial effects on the disability process may include several components (Koenig 2008;Koenig, McCullough, and Larson 2001). Taylor, Chatters, and Levin (2004), writing on religion in the lives of African Americans, cited a number of theoretical explanations for relationships between religious participation and good health. One is that religious teachings and beliefs are often consonant with good health habits that can prevent disease and disability (Roff et al. 2005). NIH Public AccessReligious participation also tends to build relationships with supportive resources. Individuals are more socially integrated with ...

Inflammation and Coagulation as Mediators in the Relationships Between Religious Attendance and Functional Limitations in Older Adults

“…Longitudinal studies have reported that religious attendance, in particular, decreases the risk of mortality and plays a preventive role for both physical and psychological health outcomes among older adults (Gillum, King, Obisesan, & Koenig, 2008; Idler & Kasl, 1997b; Koenig et al, 1999; Law & Sbarra, 2009; Park et al, 2008; Strawbridge, Cohen, & Shema, 2000). Recent longitudinal research utilizing rigorous statistical techniques suggests that religious attendance may offer protection against functional decline among older adults, even when controlling for health and social variables as well as initial functional status (Hybels, Blazer, George, & Koenig, 2012).…”

“…Among older adults, attendance at religious services is associated in cross-sectional studies with fewer functional limitations (Idler & Kasl, 1997a) and longitudinally predicts less functional decline (Benjamins, 2004; Idler & Kasl, 1997b; Park et al, 2008). While these relationships between religious attendance and functional status are well-established, biological mechanisms underlying these relationships have not been identified.…”

Changes in health status and frequency of attending religious services among medical inpatients with repeat admissions

“…It is possible that those who perceive themselves to be physically healthy find ways to continue their patterns of religious attendance even if they have experienced objective worsening of comorbidities and/ or disability. Those who attend religious services frequently are likely to have more responsibilities and obligations within their religious congregations, which may lead them to more optimistic assessments of their own health-assessments that cohere with their motivation to continue their religious participation (Park et al, 2008). Alternatively, it may be that subjective measures of health are more sensitive to small changes in health status than are the more objective measures we included in this study.…”

Predictors of religious participation of older Europeans in good and poor health

“…A study of the poor older population in Connecticut (Jarvis and Northcott 1987) concludes that religiousness and attendance was positively correlated with a reduction in mortality. Other studies find that different dimensions of religious involvement have a protective effect against a functional decline among the older population (Park et al 2008; Hybels et al 2012). The study by Park et al (2008) concludes that attending religious services is related to lower levels of functional limitations and decreases the risks of developing limitations in the instrumental activities of daily living.…”

“…Other studies find that different dimensions of religious involvement have a protective effect against a functional decline among the older population (Park et al 2008; Hybels et al 2012). The study by Park et al (2008) concludes that attending religious services is related to lower levels of functional limitations and decreases the risks of developing limitations in the instrumental activities of daily living. A similar relation has not been found for private religious practices, such as watching and listening to religious media and prayer.…”