Religion and subjective health among black and white elders.
This study examines the effect of religion on subjective health in a sample of Black and White elderly adults living in a southern community of the United States. The analyses lead to several conclusions. First, the findings indicate that future analyses examining the link between religion and subjective health should incorporate measures of functional health. Second, the differences found between Blacks and Whites warrant separation by race in future studies of religion and health. Third, the effects of religion on subjective health seem to be greatest for those suffering from physical health problems. This last finding emphasizes the comfort role of religion suggested by other researchers.
Department of Sociology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0088, USA. mmusick@soc.duke.edu
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D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People