Attendance at religious services and physical functioning after stroke among older Mexican Americans

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of attendance at religious services and change in physical functioning among older Mexican Americans who report residual physical limitations due to stroke. Using data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE), generalized linear models were used to evaluate change in physical function over 3 years in persons with stroke aged 65 and older, controlling for demographics, medical conditions, health behaviors, and physical mobility. The results showed frequent attendees at religious services had significantly fewer declines in activities of daily living (ADLs) disability compared to infrequent attendees. The frequent attendance group also showed less decline in lower body function compared to the infrequent attendees. Findings are indicative that church attendance prestroke is associated with better physical function poststroke in older Mexican Americans.