Love thy Aged? A State-Level Analysis of Religiosity and Mobility in Aging Populations During the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Abstract

Objectives: We test whether the association between state religiosity and distance traveled is moderated by population age during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: Mobility is operationalized as the state-level average median distance traveled from February 24 to May 4 across the contiguous United States. Shelter-in-place rates are operationalized as the state-level percentage of users staying home. State religiosity is measured with an index of aggregated religious identities, beliefs, and practices. Population age is indicated by the state percentage of adults aged 65 years and older. We model population mobility using regression with state clustered robust SEs. Results: We observe that religious states tend to travel more during the early stages of the pandemic. However, the behavioral risks associated with state religiosity are less pronounced in states with larger older populations. Discussion: We contribute to our understanding of the social patterning of pandemic mobility in aging populations.

Conservatism and infrequent mask usage: A study of US counties during the novel coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic

“…Certain religious populations may also resist public health recommendations and the adoption of healthy pandemic lifestyles because they tend to hold more negative views of science and scientists and strong religious beliefs concerning the pandemic (Hill, Gonzalez, & Burdette, 2020;Hill, Gonzalez, & Upenieks, 2021;Perry, Whitehead, & Grubbs, 2020). Several studies show that more religious populations tend to report less trust in science as a social institution and more anti-science attitudes (Evans, 2013;Gauchat, 2008Gauchat, , 2012.…”

Rituals of Contagion in Closed Religious Communities: A Case Study of Amish and Mennonite Communities in the USA During the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Researchers found that religious conservatives and devoutly religious people and places with higher numbers of them were less likely to wear masks, social distance, or comply with stay-at-home orders (Adler Jr et al, 2021 ; Corcoran et al, 2022 ; Gonzalez et al, 2021 ; Hill et al, 2020 , 2021 ; Perry et al, 2020a ; Pew Research Center, 2020 ; Scheitle & Corcoran, 2021 ; Schnabel & Schieman, 2022 ). Surveys fielded in March and June 2020 indicated that white evangelical Protestants in the USA were among the least likely to comply with these policies and the most likely to support the restrictions’ termination (Pew Research Center, 2020 ).…”

“…Christian nationalists (i.e., those who ascribe to a politically infused conservative religious ideology) were particularly resistant to COVID-19 mandates viewing them as contrary to economic prosperity and liberty (Perry et al, 2020a , 2020b ). This resistance was likely also rooted in cultural distrust of medicine, the government, and science (Armer & Radina, 2006 ; Baker et al, 2020 ; Galanter, 1999 ; Gastañaduy et al, 2016 ; Glassman, 2018 ; Gonzalez et al, 2021 ; Hill et al, 2020 , 2021 ; Miller & Karkazis, 2013 ; Offit, 2015 ; Stein et al, 2022 ; Thompson & Kisjes, 2016 ; Whitehead & Perry, 2020 ).…”

Validation of the COVID-19 Disbelief Scale: Conditional indirect effects of religiosity and COVID-19 fear on intent to vaccinate

“…In the U.S., religiosity has been an influential factor in the misinformation generated about COVID-19 ( Bentzen, 2020 ; Hill, Gonzalez, & Upenieks, 2021 ). Religious affiliation related to greater disregard to shelter-in-place guidelines to remain at home ( Hill et al, 2021 ).…”

“…In the U.S., religiosity has been an influential factor in the misinformation generated about COVID-19 ( Bentzen, 2020 ; Hill, Gonzalez, & Upenieks, 2021 ). Religious affiliation related to greater disregard to shelter-in-place guidelines to remain at home ( Hill et al, 2021 ). Biblical literalist conservative Protestants studied from 1984 to 2010 increasingly opposed scientists on moral and social issues ( Evans, 2013 ).…”