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Religious involvement and healthy lifestyles: Evidence from the survey of Texas adults

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background: Although research shows that religious involvement is associated with a wide range of individual health behaviors, it has yet to be determined whether the effect of religious involvement extends to an overall pattern of regular health practices that may constitute a lifestyle.Purpose: Building on prior research, we test whether religious individuals tend to engage in healthier lifestyles than individuals who are less religious.Methods: Using data collected from a statewide probability sample of 1,369 Texas adults, we estimate a series of ordinary least squares regression models to assess the net effect of religious involvement on overall healthy lifestyle scores.Results: The results of our study indicate that religious individuals do tend to engage in healthier lifestyles, and this pattern is similar for men and women and across race/ethnic groups. We also find some evidence to suggest that the association between religious involvement and healthy lifestyles may be less pronounced in old age.Conclusions: Assuming that religious involvement is associated with healthier lifestyles, additional research is needed to account for these patterns. Future studies should also consider whether healthy lifestyles may serve as a mechanism through which religious involvement might favor health and longevity.

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Author notes

  1. Terrence D. Hill Ph.D.

    Present address: Department of Sociology, University of Miami, P.O. Box 248162, 33124-2030, Coral Gables, FL

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, The University of Texas at Austin, USA

    Christopher G. Ellison Ph.D. & Marc A. Musick Ph.D.

  2. Carolina Population Research Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, USA

    Amy M. Burdette Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Terrence D. Hill Ph.D.
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  2. Christopher G. Ellison Ph.D.
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  3. Amy M. Burdette Ph.D.
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  4. Marc A. Musick Ph.D.
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Hill, T.D., Ellison, C.G., Burdette, A.M. et al. Religious involvement and healthy lifestyles: Evidence from the survey of Texas adults. ann. behav. med. 34, 217–222 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02872676

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02872676

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