Praying for Health by Older Adults in the United States: Differences by Ethnicity, Gender, and Income

Abstract

We studied praying for health using data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (n = 10,096), representing 89.6 million Americans ages 50+. Unadjusted analysis and multivariate logistic regression accounted for the survey design. Nearly 49.4 million older adults prayed for health. African Americans and Hispanics were more much likely to do so than whites, with adjusted odds ratios 2.79 and 1.86 (both p < .0001). Adjusted odds for women were nearly twice those of men (p < .0001). Those with lower income were more likely to pray for health (p < .0001). Health and social services providers should be sensitive older adults' spiritual needs.

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“…This definition is consistent with established approaches to defining the older population when studying health issues [20,21]. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines older populations as age 50 and above because this is the decade in which many major chronic disease processes begin to manifest symptoms, including arthritis.…”

Hospitalized Asian Patients and Their Spiritual Needs

“…The 50-year mark is commonly used to delineate older adults since this is the decade with health-related problems often begin to manifest (Tait et al, 2011). Just over half the sample (50.8%, n = 409) was female.…”

Living Through the Paschal Mystery: Surviving Cancer Narratives Told by Older Roman Catholic Women

“…Studies conducted with older women have shown that religious beliefs were beneficial in helping women to cope with physical illness (Conway, 1985(Conway, -1986Manfredi & Pickett, 1987;Rosen, 1982). Moreover, data from the U.S. 2007 National Health Interview Survey have indicated that women aged over 50 were nearly twice as likely as men to pray for health (Tait et al, 2011). Tait and colleagues further noted that the likelihood of praying for health was increased for older adults reporting ill health, particularly among those with musculoskeletal conditions, circulatory problems, depression, or cancer.…”

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