THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RELIGIOUS SERVICE ATTENDANCE, SPIRITUALITY, LONELINESS, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION
2024
Religious Service Attendance and Loneliness in Older Adults
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Taylor Harry, Nguyen Ann
Primary Institution: University of Toronto
Hypothesis
Does religious service attendance and spirituality affect loneliness and social isolation among older adults?
Conclusion
Attending religious services is linked to lower loneliness and social isolation in older adults.
Supporting Evidence
- Respondents who did not attend religious services were more likely to be socially isolated.
- Spirituality did not have a significant association with social isolation.
- Respondents who did not attend religious services had significantly greater loneliness compared to those who did.
- Higher spirituality scores were associated with lower loneliness scores.
Takeaway
Going to church or religious services can help older people feel less lonely and isolated.
Methodology
The study used multivariable linear regression to analyze data from the Health and Retirement Study.
Participant Demographics
Older adults, with covariates including age, gender, race, income, employment status, and education.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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