Religious participation, interleukin-6, and mortality in older adults.
This study prospectively examined the relationship between religious attendance, interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and mortality rates in a community-based sample of 557 older adults. Attending religious services more than once weekly was a significant predictor of lower subsequent 12-year mortality and elevated IL-6 levels (> 3.19 pg/mL), with a mortality ratio of.32 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.15,0.72; p <.01) and an odds ratio for elevated IL-6 of.34 (95% CI = 0.16, 0.73, p <.01), compared with never attending religious services. Structural equation modeling indicated religious attendance was significantly related to lower mortality rates and IL-6 levels, and IL-6 levels mediated the prospective relationship between religious attendance and mortality. Results were independent of covariates including age, sex, health behaviors, chronic illness, social support, and depression. Findings are consistent with a role for IL-6 in processes mediating the relationship between religious attendance and mortality.
Lutgendorf
Susan K
SK
Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. susan-lutgendorf@uiowa.edu
Russell
Daniel
D
Ullrich
Philip
P
Harris
Tamara B
TB
Wallace
Robert
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007484:Iowa; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D015850:Interleukin-6