title: Forms of Attrition in a Longitudinal Study of Religion and Health in Older Adults and Implications for Sample Bias.
abstract: The use of longitudinal designs in the field of religion and health makes it important to understand how attrition bias may affect findings in this area. This study examines attrition in a 4-wave, 8-year study of older adults. Attrition resulted in a sample biased toward more educated and more religiously involved individuals. Conditional linear growth curve models found that trajectories of change for some variables differed among attrition categories. Ineligibles had worsening depression, declining control, and declining attendance. Mortality was associated with worsening religious coping styles. Refusers experienced worsening depression. Nevertheless, there was no evidence of bias in the key religion and health results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA. rdhaywar@umich.edu.
authors.forename: R David
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA.
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krause
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012067:Religion
keywords: Attrition; Health; Longitudinal analysis; Religion