An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of Religious Involvement and Adult Self-Rated Health: Results from the USA, 1972-2008.

This study conducts an age, period, cohort analysis of how religious involvement affects adult health across the life course and over time in the USA. Cross-classified random-effect models are used to examine data drawn from the General Social Survey, 1972-2008. The research shows clear life course patterns, time trends and birth cohort changes in the religious involvement and health relationship with period effects surpassing cohort effects. For the most part, the results show a loss of advantage in health with age for those who are more involved in religion. Period effects are mainly demonstrated by an overall downward trend of self-rated health (SRH) attributable to religious denominational differences and various levels of social integration. Unlike the period effects, the health disparities associated with religious denominational differences fluctuated when cohort progressed. These findings suggest that in general, the positive effect of religious involvement on SRH decreases with age and periods, but its influence on individual SRH fluctuates by cohort. It is expected that a downward trend in SRH attributable to religious involvement will carry on in future.