|
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
|
Aging, Health, and the "Electronic Church"
Judith C. Hays, PhD
Duke University Medical Center
Lawrence R. Landerman, PhD
Duke University Medical Center
Dan G. Blazer, MD, PhD
Duke University Medical Center
Harold G. Koenig, MD, MHSc
Duke University Medical Center
Jackson W. Carroll, PhD
Duke University
Marc A. Musick, PhD
University of Michigan
We tested whether elders substitute religious media use for church attendance when health declines (using multidimensional disengagement theory) with data from a multiracial, population-based sample in the Bible Belt (N = 2,971). In adjusted models, 3-year declines in functional status were significantly associated with concurrent reduction in frequency of church attendance but not with any change in rates of religious media (TV/radio) use. Age-related declines in church attendance were substantively explained by declining functional ability. Changes in religious media use were independent of age and less sensitive to declining functional status or service attendance than to cultural heritage such as race, socioeconomic status, and rural upbringing. Our data do not support the hypothesis that elders with deteriorating health substitute increased engagement with religious media as their participation in organizational religious activities is reduced. However, applicability of the substitution hypothesis to other dimensions of nonorganizational religiousness (e.g., prayer) awaits similar scrutiny.
Journal of Aging and Health, Vol. 10, No. 4,
458-482 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/089826439801000404
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
A. L. Ai, C. Peterson, T. N. Tice, B. Huang, W. Rodgers, and S. F. Bolling
The Influence of Prayer Coping on Mental Health among Cardiac Surgery Patients: The Role of Optimism and Acute Distress
J Health Psychol,
July 1, 2007;
12(4):
580 - 596.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. R. Benjamins
Religion and Functional Health Among the Elderly: Is There a Relationship and Is It Constant?
J Aging Health,
June 1, 2004;
16(3):
355 - 374.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. R. Benjamins, M. A. Musick, D. T. Gold, and L. K. George
Age-Related Declines in Activity Level: The Relationship Between Chronic Illness and Religious Activities
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.,
November 1, 2003;
58(6):
S377 - 385.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Hays and L. K. George
The Life-Course Trajectory toward Living Alone: Racial Differences
Research on Aging,
May 1, 2002;
24(3):
283 - 307.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. L. Idler, S. V. Kasl, and J. C. Hays
Patterns of Religious Practice and Belief in the Last Year of Life
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.,
November 1, 2001;
56(6):
S326 - 334.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. Kelley-Moore and K. F. Ferraro
Functional Limitations and Religious Service Attendance in Later Life: Barrier and/or Benefit Mechanism?
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.,
November 1, 2001;
56(6):
S365 - 373.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Hays, K. G. Meador, P. S. Branch, and L. K. George
The Spiritual History Scale in Four Dimensions (SHS-4): Validity and Reliability
Gerontologist,
April 1, 2001;
41(2):
239 - 249.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Hendricks and S. J. Cutler
The Effects of Membership in Church-Related Associations and Labor Unions on Age Differences in Voluntary Association Affiliations
Gerontologist,
April 1, 2001;
41(2):
250 - 256.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
