Journal article
The association of telomere length and religiosity: A systematic review
Biodemography and social biology, Vol.70(1), pp.3-16
01/02/2025
DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2024.2448946
PMID: 39760184
Abstract
Religiosity is a complex construct comprised observance, intrinsic beliefs, meditative practice, and communal elements. Religiosity has been associated with reduced mortality and improved overall health, but understanding the underlying biological associations is evolving. As increased telomere length has been associated with increased longevity, this project presents a systematic review of studies investigating the relationship between religiosity and telomere length.
The study protocol was registered prior to the search. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol was followed. Seven databases were employed using relevant criteria: PubMed, PSYCHinfo, CINAHL, ATLA, Scopus, Sociological Abstracts, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical.
A total of 381 studies were identified and 46 studies met full screening. Eight studies met the final inclusion criteria. Of these eight studies, two showed no relationship between religiosity and telomere length, three showed a positive relationship, and three showed an equivocal or ambivalent relationship. Meta-analysis was not possible due to the heterogeneity of the studies.
Religiosity may be associated with telomere length, but results vary widely across the diverse studies included. Longitudinal studies with adequate sample size are needed to determine this association more rigorously.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The association of telomere length and religiosity: A systematic review
- Creators
- Benjamin R Doolittle - Yale UniversityKatherine Carroll Britt - University of PennsylvaniaRuby Lekwauwa - Yale UniversityJoshua Sebu - University of Cape CoastAugustine Boateng - University of Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Biodemography and social biology, Vol.70(1), pp.3-16
- DOI
- 10.1080/19485565.2024.2448946
- PMID
- 39760184
- NLM abbreviation
- Biodemography Soc Biol
- ISSN
- 1948-5565
- eISSN
- 1948-5573
- Publisher
- ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 01/06/2025
- Date published
- 01/02/2025
- Academic Unit
- Nursing; Center for Social Science Innovation
- Record Identifier
- 9984771630602771
Metrics
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