Changes in Religiosity in Old Age: An Exploratory Study.
Changes in religious identity and predictors of change in religiousness are explored in a sample of 1,191 self-respondent Jewish Israeli participants, aged 75 to 94. Data were drawn from two waves of a national survey. Assessments included measures of religious identity, reported change in religiousness, religious practice, functional status, cognitive functioning, and depression. Religious change was reported retrospectively and also examined prospectively. Change in religious identity was reported by approximately 25% of participants. Changes in religiousness were associated with worse functional status and with more depressed affect. Changes in religious identity were associated with a practice that is in the direction of change, even prior to the reported change. Findings raise concerns about the adequacy of social or functional support for persons who wish to continue their previous religious practice.
Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel Minerva Center for Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel The Herczeg Institute on Aging, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel Jiska@post.tau.ac.il.
Jiska
J
Cohen-Mansfield
The Herczeg Institute on Aging, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Dov
D
Shmotkin
Minerva Center for Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel The Herczeg Institute on Aging, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv, Israel.
Haim
H
Hazan
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012069:Religion and Psychology
aging; health; human development; mental health; older adults; psychological well-being; spiritual health