Religious Involvement and Cognitive Function Among White, Black, and Hispanic Older Adults

• Published in: Research on aging 2025-02, Vol.47 (2), p.116-127
• Main Authors: Sauerteig-Rolston, Madison R., Barnes, Lisa L., Thomas, Patricia A., Angel, Jacqueline L., Ferraro, Kenneth F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Black or African American - psychology; Cognition; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Dysfunction - ethnology; Cognitive functioning; Cognitive impairment; Ethnicity; Female; Hispanic or Latino - psychology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Older people; Participation; Race; Religion; Religion and Psychology; Religiosity; Religious participation; Retirement; United States; White - psychology
• ISSN: 0164-0275; 1552-7573; 1552-7573
• DOI: 10.1177/01640275241269949

We examined whether religious involvement was associated with cognitive function among older adults in the 2006–2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Using growth curve analysis, we found the association between religious involvement and cognition varied by facet of religious involvement and race and Hispanic ethnicity. Attending religious services with friends was associated with higher initial levels of cognitive function (b = 0.22, p < .05). For Hispanic older adults, frequent attendance at religious services was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline (b = 0.16, p < .01). Stratified models by race and Hispanic ethnicity demonstrated that religious salience was associated with lower initial levels of cognitive function among non-Hispanic White adults (b = -0.19, p < .01). We found no association between religious involvement and cognitive function among non-Hispanic Black respondents. In sum, elements of religious involvement are positively or negatively related to cognitive function in later life and vary by race and ethnicity.