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Religiosity and health among Chinese older adults: a meta-analytic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 July 2020

Jia Li  and
Qi Wang Open the ORCID record for Qi Wang [Opens in a new window]
Jia Li
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Qi Wang*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The ageing population has been rapidly growing over recent years. Theoretically, religion seemingly plays an important role in improving older people's health. This study examines whether believing in religion is related to better health conditions among Chinese older adults through a meta-analysis. Two researchers independently extracted the studies from a comprehensive database and grey literature search and evaluated their scientific quality. From the 3,777 potentially eligible papers, just 76 were selected. The pooled effect size detected no significant difference between Chinese religious and non-religious older adults’ overall health and wellbeing. Dividing the outcomes into different categories, religious older adults reported both a higher level of anxiety (Hedge's g = −0.392, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.494, −0.290; p = 0.004) and yet a higher level of happiness (Hedge's g = 0.342, 95% CI = 0.074, 0.610; p = 0.018). Having a higher proportion of females in the sample is related to a smaller effect size in overall health outcomes (β = −2.205, 95% CI = −3.800, −0.613; p = 0.007) and social support specifically (β = −4.660, 95% CI = −6.261, −3.058; p < 0.0001). This study is among the first to synthesise the quantitative evidence regarding health differences between older religion believers and non-believers in China. It calls for future studies investigating the pathways underlying the religion–health relationship.

Keywords

religiositypsycho-social wellbeingChinameta-analysisolder adults
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 42 , Issue 2 , February 2022 , pp. 271 - 305
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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