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Religious participation, interleukin-6, and mortality in older adults
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Religious participation, interleukin-6, and mortality in older adults

Susan K Lutgendorf, Daniel Russell, Philip Ullrich, Tamara B Harris and Robert Wallace
Health psychology, Vol.23(5), pp.465-475
09/2004
DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.23.5.465
PMID: 15367066

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Abstract

This study prospectively examined the relationship between religious attendance, interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and mortality rates in a community-based sample of 557 older adults. Attending religious services more than once weekly was a significant predictor of lower subsequent 12-year mortality and elevated IL-6 levels (> 3.19 pg/mL), with a mortality ratio of.32 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.15,0.72; p <.01) and an odds ratio for elevated IL-6 of.34 (95% CI = 0.16, 0.73, p <.01), compared with never attending religious services. Structural equation modeling indicated religious attendance was significantly related to lower mortality rates and IL-6 levels, and IL-6 levels mediated the prospective relationship between religious attendance and mortality. Results were independent of covariates including age, sex, health behaviors, chronic illness, social support, and depression. Findings are consistent with a role for IL-6 in processes mediating the relationship between religious attendance and mortality.
 Confidence Intervals Rural Population - statistics & numerical data Follow-Up Studies Humans Life Change Events Mortality Aging - psychology Male Activities of Daily Living - classification Aging - immunology Iowa Religion and Psychology Health Surveys Interleukin-6 - blood Aged, 80 and over Female Aged

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