Linking Multi-Dimensional Religiosity in Childhood and Later Adulthood: Implications for Later Life Health.

ABSTRACT: This study examines religiosity patterns across childhood and later adulthood and their associations with later-life health using an experimental module from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (N = 1649; Mean Age = 64.0). Latent class analysis is used to categorize individuals by commonalities in religious attendance, religious identity, and spiritual identity. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations are then explored using probable depression, disability, and mortality as health indicators. Results reveal complex patterns, often characterized by declining attendance and fluctuating identity. Relationships with health appear stronger in cross-sectional analyses, suggesting that some associations may be non-causal. Individuals with consistently strong religiosity show signifi

SUBMITTER: Hamm SI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11656630 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature