Effects of religious capital on self-reported health among older African Americans

This study examines the effects of religious capital on perceived health among older African Americans. This study is unique in that it focuses on elderly African Americans. In addition, this study examines religious capital in terms of attendance at religious services and Sunday school, increased prayer, and increased religious study to determine whether increased religious capital improves the perceived health of elderly African Americans. This study used data from The Religion, Aging, and Health Survey 2001 and created a subsample of African American adults 65 years and older that live in the continental United States. Binary logistic regression models are used to test hypotheses pertaining to the effects of religious capital on self-perceived health. Results from logistic regression models support existing literature on the link between increased attendance and religious study and health; however the link between increased prayer and self-perceived health is not supported. Research limitations and directions for further research are discussed.