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Cited by 107Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyAging and Gerontology ResearchReligion and Society Interactions

Religious Participation and Mortality Risk Among the Oldest Old in China

Zhang, W.·2008·The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
DOI 10.1093/geronb/63.5.s293
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Rapid population aging in China calls for more research into social factors responsible for health and well-being among older adults. This article adds to this line of inquiry by examining the relationship between religious participation and mortality, as well as the potential pathways linking these factors and subgroup variations among oldest old Chinese. METHODS: Using two waves (1998 and 2000) of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, I estimated Cox proportional hazards models for a nationwide sample of Chinese aged 80 to 105. RESULT: Controlling for a wide range of covariates, I found religious participation to be significantly associated with lower risk of mortality for oldest old women and for individuals in poor health. Engaging in leisure activities and exercises partially accounted for this association. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that (a) religious participation, associated with other socially integrated and cognitively stimulating activities, predicts mortality risk among oldest old Chinese; and (b) religious participation offers psychosocial resources that are likely to compensate for the increased mortality risk associated with disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions of certain vulnerable groups such as women and individuals in poor health.

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  • Considering the 63 methodologically most rigorous studies (quality ratings of 8 or higher), 47 (75%) found R/S predicting greater longevity (two at trend level).

    “Considering the 63 methodologically most rigorous studies (quality ratings of 8 or higher), 47 (75%) found R/S predicting greater longevity (two at trend level) [548–566], whereas three (5%) reported shorter longevity [567–569].”

    From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [552]

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Authors
Zhang, W.
Affiliations
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
Corresponding author
Zhang, W.
ORCID
Zhang, W.
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2008-09-01
Volume
63
Issue
5
Pages
S293-S297
ISSN
  • 1079-5014 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-5368
DOI
10.1093/geronb/63.5.s293
OpenAlex
W2122692949
Cited by
107
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
FWCI
3.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series B (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
Keywords
religious participation, mortality risk, oldest old, health status, leisure, physical activity, social integration, cognitive stimulation, psychosocial resources, socioeconomic deprivation, Chinese older adults, population aging
MeSH terms
Aged, 80 and over, China, Female, Humans, Male, Mortality, Religion, Risk, Cohort Studies, Proportional Hazards Models

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