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Do Purpose in Life and Social Support Mediate the Association between Religiousness/Spirituality and Mortality? Evidence from the MIDUS National Sample

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  • Jennifer Morozink Boylan

    (Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80217, USA)

  • Christianne Biggane

    (School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA)

  • Jonathan A. Shaffer

    (Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80217, USA)

  • Caitlyn L. Wilson

    (Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80217, USA)

  • Kaitlyn M. Vagnini

    (Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80217, USA)

  • Kevin S. Masters

    (Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80217, USA)

Abstract

We examined prospective associations between religiousness/spirituality (R/S; i.e., service attendance, R/S identity, R/S coping, spirituality) and all-cause mortality in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) sample, including whether having a purpose in life and positive social support are indirect pathways through which R/S predicts mortality. We examined service attendance and a composite of R/S identity, R/S coping, and spirituality from the baseline wave (1995–1996; n = 6120 with complete data), purpose in life and positive social support from the second wave (2004–2006), and vital status through 2020 (n = 1711 decedents). Cox regression models showed that attending religious services more than weekly and approximately weekly was associated with a lower mortality risk compared to never attending in the adjusted models (>weekly vs. never, HR (95% CI) = 0.72 (0.61, 0.85); weekly vs. never, HR (95% CI) = 0.76 (0.66, 0.88)). The R/S composite was also associated with lower mortality risk in the adjusted models (HR (95% CI) = 0.92 (0.87, 0.97)). Indirect effects from R/S to mortality via purpose in life and positive social support were significantly different from zero. These findings highlight the importance of multidimensional aspects of R/S for population health and point to purpose in life and positive social support as underlying pathways between R/S and mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer Morozink Boylan & Christianne Biggane & Jonathan A. Shaffer & Caitlyn L. Wilson & Kaitlyn M. Vagnini & Kevin S. Masters, 2023. "Do Purpose in Life and Social Support Mediate the Association between Religiousness/Spirituality and Mortality? Evidence from the MIDUS National Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:12:p:6112-:d:1169774
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reindl Benjamins, Maureen & Brown, Carolyn, 2004. "Religion and preventative health care utilization among the elderly," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(1), pages 109-118, January.
    2. Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Timothy B Smith & J Bradley Layton, 2010. "Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-1, July.
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