Research in the field of religion and aging is rapidly growing because of the demonstrated importance of religion in the lives of older adults. Despite this acknowledged importance, however, there remains a dearth of research on this issue, particularly with regard to investigations of older African Americans. The proposed research aims to address these gaps in the literature and provide an indepth examination of religious involvement among older African Americans, older Whites and, for the first time, older Afro Caribbeans. Specifically, the proposed research will examine the correlates of organizational (e.g., religious service attendance, membership), nonorganizational (frequency of prayer, reading religious materials, watching religious television broadcasts) and subjective religiosity (attitudes about the importance of religion, self-rated religiosity) within these identified population groups. This research will also address a neglected question in the literature concerning the interface between spirituality and religiosity, that is, the degree to which people characterize themselves as being spiritual versus religious. Finally, the proposed work will confirm a multidimensional measurement model of religious involvement among older Black, Afro Caribbean and White respondents. This proposed study will utilize data from the National Survey of American Life (N=6,199), of which 1,479 respondents are 55 years of age and older. The data analytic approaches to be used include regression, logistic regression, multi-nominal logistic regression and structural equation modeling.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AG018782-04
Application #
6867824
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-D (02))
Program Officer
Stahl, Sidney M
Project Start
2001-03-15
Project End
2008-01-31
Budget Start
2005-02-01
Budget End
2006-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$250,920
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Woodward, Amanda Toler; Taylor, Robert Joseph; Bullard, Kai McKeever et al. (2012) Prevalence of lifetime DSM-IV affective disorders among older African Americans, Black Caribbeans, Latinos, Asians and non-Hispanic White people. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 27:816-27
Lincoln, Karen D; Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chatters, Linda M et al. (2012) Suicide, negative interaction and emotional support among black Americans. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 47:1947-58
Woodward, Amanda Toler; Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chatters, Linda M (2011) Use of Professional and Informal Support by Black Men with Mental Disorders. Res Soc Work Pract 21:328-336
Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chatters, Linda M; Joe, Sean (2011) Religious involvement and suicidal behavior among African Americans and Black Caribbeans. J Nerv Ment Dis 199:478-86
Levin, Jeff; Chatters, Linda M; Taylor, Robert Joseph (2011) Theory in religion, aging, and health: an overview. J Relig Health 50:389-406
Chatters, Linda M; Mattis, Jacqueline S; Woodward, Amanda Toler et al. (2011) Use of ministers for a serious personal problem among African Americans: findings from the national survey of American life. Am J Orthopsychiatry 81:118-27
Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chatters, Linda M; Joe, Sean (2011) Non-organizational religious participation, subjective religiosity, and spirituality among older African Americans and Black Caribbeans. J Relig Health 50:623-45
Woodward, Amanda T; Chatters, Linda M; Taylor, Robert Joseph et al. (2010) Differences in Professional and Informal Help Seeking among Older African Americans, Black Caribbeans and Non-Hispanic Whites. J Soc Social Work Res 1:124-139
Lincoln, Karen D; Taylor, Robert Joseph; Bullard, Kai McKeever et al. (2010) Emotional support, negative interaction and DSM IV lifetime disorders among older African Americans: findings from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 25:612-21
Lincoln, Karen D; Taylor, Robert Joseph; Chae, David H et al. (2010) Demographic Correlates of Psychological Well-Being and Distress Among Older African Americans and Caribbean Black Adults. Best Pract Ment Health 6:103-126

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