Religious involvement and physical functioning among older Mexican Americans

Background and purpose: To examine the association between attendance at religious services and incidence of ADL disability over a period of 7 years among older Mexican Americans 65 years and older. Methods: Using data from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE), logistic generalized estimation equation (GEE) models were used to analyze the contribution of attendance at religious services to the differences in incidence of ADL disability over 7 years, controlling for demographics, medical conditions, and physical mobility. Results: Frequent attendees at religious services had 30% lower odds of developing ADL disability over 7 years compared to the non-regular attendance group. The odds were reduced to 23%, but remained significant, when physical and mental health were controlled. Conclusions: In this older Mexican American population, regular attendees at religious services were less likely to develop ADL disability over a period of 7 years compared to those who attended services less often.