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Religion and survival in a secular region. A twenty year follow-up of 734 Danish adults born in 1914

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  • la Cour, Peter
  • Avlund, Kirsten
  • Schultz-Larsen, Kirsten

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyse associations of religiosity and mortality in a secular region. The sample consisted of 734 Danish, community dwelling elderly persons, living in a secular culture, and all aged 70 when primary data were collected. Secondary data consisted of a 20 year follow-up on vital status or exact age of death. The study was designed to be highly comparable to studies conducted in more religious environments in order to compare results. Three variables of religion were investigated in relation to survival: importance of affiliation, church attendance and listening to religious media. Relative hazards (RH) of dying were controlled in models including gender, education, medical and mental health, social relations, help given and received, and health behaviour. The results showed significant and positive associations between claiming religious affiliation important and survival (relative hazard of dying=RH .70; 95% CI .58-.85) and church attendance and survival (RH .73; 95% CI .64-.87). Results decreased and only stayed significant regarding church attendance when controlled for covariates. Nearly all significant effects were seen in women, but not in men. The effect size of the full sample is less than in more religious environments in United States samples. Although the positive overall RHs are comparable to those of other studies, the mediating variables and pathways of effects seem dissimilar in this sample from a secular environment. Receiving and especially giving help to others are suggested as variables of explanatory value.

Suggested Citation

  • la Cour, Peter & Avlund, Kirsten & Schultz-Larsen, Kirsten, 2006. "Religion and survival in a secular region. A twenty year follow-up of 734 Danish adults born in 1914," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(1), pages 157-164, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:62:y:2006:i:1:p:157-164
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Avlund, Kirsten & Damsgaard, Mogens Trab & Holstein, BjØrn E., 1998. "Social relations and mortality. An eleven year follow-up study of 70-year-old men and women in Denmark," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 47(5), pages 635-643, September.
    2. Oman, D. & Reed, D., 1998. "Religion and mortality among the community-dwelling elderly," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 88(10), pages 1469-1475.
    3. Strawbridge, W.J. & Cohen, R.D. & Shema, S.J. & Kaplan, G.A., 1997. "Frequent attendance at religious services and mortality over 28 years," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(6), pages 957-961.
    4. Robert Hummer & Richard Rogers & Charles Nam & Christopher Ellison, 1999. "Religious involvement and U.S. adult mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 36(2), pages 273-285, May.
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    3. Nicholson, Amanda & Rose, Richard & Bobak, Martin, 2009. "Association between attendance at religious services and self-reported health in 22 European countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 519-528, August.

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