US religious seniors happier than non-religious peers

An American study of mainly middle class white Protestants has claimed that older people who are religious believe they have an enhanced quality of life over non-religious older Americans.

The study, conducted by Michele Dillon, of the University of New Hampshire, and Paul Wink, professor of psychology at Wellesley College, found that religiousness plays a significant role in enhancing the quality of life in old age, even among seniors who are economically well off, and in good physical and mental health.

Religious seniors are more involved in social activities such as visiting with family and friends, altruistic community activities and creative activities such as painting and craftwork.

Religious seniors are more giving and generous toward others, more aware of and sympathetic to the needs of others, and more involved in social activism, according to Dillon. On the health front, the researchers found religious seniors in poor health were buffered against depression because of their religious involvement.

“For many in the study, their faith provided a strong source of meaning and consolation during illness and other times of adversity. Religious individuals also were more satisfied with life and had a stronger sense of having control over their lives than their nonreligious peers,” Ms Dillon said.

People in the study who were highly religious were the least afraid of dying; and those who were moderately religious were the most afraid. Secular seniors had a similarly low fear of death.

Religious individuals who believe in an afterlife and who attend church on a frequent basis are less afraid of death than those who believe in an afterlife but who don’t attend church.