We have discussed similar issues on Tips in the past. (While correlation
does not mean causation, the researchers do try to deal with this issue
somewhat.)
>From: "Jeffrey Nagelbush" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Fwd: Re: [evol-psych] Re: A religious instinct?
>Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 18:40:43 EDT
>>===8<==============Original message text===============
>>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 14 MAY 1999
>>Contact: Rick Rogers
>>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>303-492-2147
>>University of Colorado at Boulder
>>
>>Research Shows Religion Plays A Major Role In Health, Longevity
>>
>>Being good has its rewards in this life, as well as in the next.
>>
>>Research conducted partly at the University of Colorado at Boulder has
>>found that regular churchgoers live longer than people who seldom or
>>never attend worship services.
>>
>>For the first time, that extra lifespan has been quantified. While
>>there are differences between genders and races, in general those who
>>go to church once or more each week can look forward to about seven
>>more years than those who never attend.
>>
>>Life expectancy beyond age 20 averages another 55.3 years, to age 75,
>>for those who never attend church compared to another 62.9 years, age
>>83, for those who go more than once a week.
>>
>>The research showed that people who never attended services had an 87
>>percent higher risk of dying during the follow-up period than those
>>who attended more than once a week.
>>
>>The research also revealed that women and blacks can enjoy especially
>>longer lives if they are religiously active.
>>
>>The findings are contained in a study conducted jointly by Rick
>>Rogers, of CU-Boulder, Robert Hummer and Christopher Ellison, of the
>>University of Texas at Austin, and Charles Nam, from Florida State
>>University.
>>
>>Rogers is a professor of sociology and a professional research
>>associate with the population program at the university's Institute of
>>Behavioral Science. The study drew on a 1987 National Health Interview
>>Survey of more than 28,000 people and focused on more than 2,000 who
>>died between 1987 and 1995.
>>
>>Rogers said previous studies had examined and established links
>>between religion, health outcomes and lower risks of mortality but
>>this research broke new ground by testing those relationships against
>>a number of variables.
>>
>>The research team factored in such elements as education and income,
>>social ties (including marital status and having friends and relatives
>>to count on), and health status and behavior, including such things as
>>smoking and alcohol use.
>>
>>For example, educated and better off people, who have lower mortality,
>>were more likely to attend church, while churchgoers generally were
>>less likely to engage in such high risk health behaviors as smoking
>>and excessive drinking.
>>
>>Frequent churchgoers were also more likely to take part in social
>>activities and enjoy a good supporting network of family and friends,
>>which could help them avoid, or at least cope better with, times of
>>stress or personal difficulty.
>>
>>However, even after taking into account all these external factors and
>>controlling the independent variables, the researchers found a "strong
>>association " still persisted between infrequent or no religious
>>attendance and higher mortality risk.
>>
>>Researchers also found distinct and related patterns when looking at
>>causes of death. For example, those who never attend services are
>>about twice as likely to die from respiratory disease, diabetes or
>>infectious diseases.
>>
>>Rogers said this research established the importance of religious
>>involvement as a fundamental cause of mortality. It also opened the
>>door to further research perhaps examining religious attendance by
>>denomination and looking at the less tangible spiritual issues.
>>
>>The research findings were published this month in the latest edition
>>of the prestigious national journal Demography and will be included in
>>a book, "Living and Dying in the USA," due out in August.
>>
>>
>>===8<===========End of original message text===========
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>To subscribe/unsubscribe/select DIGEST go to:
>>http://www.egroups.com/group/evolutionary-psychology
>>Sex Differences by Linda R. Mealey
>>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0124874606/darwinanddarwini/
>>Evolutionary Psychology Archive: 7500+ Items
>>http://www.egroups.com/messages/evolutionary-psychology
>>Join the Human Behaviour and Evolution Society
>>http://www.des.ucdavis.edu/hbesrenew/
>>
>
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.
