Religious and spiritual involvement among older african americans, Caribbean blacks, and non-Hispanic whites: findings from the national survey of american life.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine similarities and differences in religious involvement among three groups of older adults-African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and non-Hispanic Whites.


METHODS
We used data from the National Survey of American Life, a nationally representative household study of African Americans and Caribbean Blacks with a national sample of non-Hispanic Whites who reside in areas (census tracks and block groups) at least 10% African American. We examined demographic correlates of 16 measures of organizational, nonorganizational, subjective religiosity, as well as religious coping and spirituality.


RESULTS
The findings indicated that older African Americans and Caribbean Blacks reported higher levels of religious participation, religious coping, and spirituality than older Whites. We observed few significant differences between older African Americans and older Caribbean Blacks. Gender, age, marital status, income, education, marital status, and region all exhibited significant influences on religious participation and spirituality.


CONCLUSIONS
Racial groups within the older population present distinctive profiles of religious participation and spirituality. The demographic correlates of religious involvement and spirituality are consistent across a variety of diverse dimensions and measures.
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. rjtaylor@umich.edu
Robert Joseph
RJ
Taylor
Linda M
LM
Chatters
James S
JS
Jackson
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D012737:Sex Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*