Nonorganizational religious participation among elderly black adults
Article Abstract:
Research has shown that religion is important to black adults; it has been shown to be a more significant source of support and coping for blacks than for whites. While there has been a lot of research on public, organized religious activities of blacks, little research has been done with regard to nonorganizational forms of religious involvement. It is hypothesized that the various dimensions of religious activity (that is, organized or nonorganized) will have different effects with regard to outcome measures such as social support and personal adjustment. The present study investigated the impact of social structure, health factors, and church denomination on participation by black people in nonorganizational religious activities, using four indicators of nonorganizational religious behavior: reading religious materials, watching or listening to religious programs, prayer, and requests for prayer. Data were obtained for 581 subjects from an ongoing nationwide survey of black Americans. Forty-one percent were between the ages of 55 and 64 years, 40 percent were between the ages of 65 and 74 years, and 19 percent were between the ages of 75 and 101 years. Data included information on health disability, the variables noted above, and demographics. Almost half (43.9 percent) of the respondents reported reading religious materials on a daily basis, and another 23.9 percent did so weekly. One-third watched or listened to religious programs daily, and 50.1 percent did so weekly. More than 9 out of 10 reported daily prayer, and 17.9 percent said they ask someone to pray for them daily. Gender was the strongest, most consistent predictor of nonorganizational religious involvement - black women participated in all forms more regularly than black men. With regard to religious denomination, Baptists tended to participate in all activities on a more frequent basis than did Catholics, Methodists, or others. The influence of other demographic factors, such as age, marital status, education, and locale, are discussed as well. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1991
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Extended family networks of older black adults
Article Abstract:
Most of the research regarding family networks for older adults has focused on the dimension of informal support. Little work has been done to examine the dimensions of family interaction, residential proximity of family members, and the quality of family relationships. This study examined family networks of older black adults, focusing on these sociodemographic variables of family life. Data were obtained from a national survey of black adults age 55 and over. The data pertained to family networks and sociodemographic characteristics of them. Results showed that for most respondents, some family members lived close by, with 3 percent reporting that more than half of their close family members lived with them, 6.3 percent reporting they lived in the neighborhood, and 33.8 percent reporting they lived in the same city. Close family proximity was more common in the South. Nearly 75 percent of the respondents reported being very satisfied with their family life, and two-thirds reported that their families were very close. Only 3.5 percent reported that their families were not close at all. A large percentage of the respondents reported being in close contact with their families. Thirty-six percent reported daily contact and 25.1 percent reported contact at least once a week. These results indicate that for a large majority of older black adults, family members live close by and contact is both frequent and satisfying. Having an adult child increased the likelihood of this occurring. Recent demographic changes in the black population could alter family networks in the future. This could have profound effects on the lives of older black adults. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1991
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Antecedents and dimensions of religious involvement among older black adults
Article Abstract:
A measurement model of religiosity was proposed and tested among a sample of older Black Americans incorporating three correlated dimensions of religious involvement known as organizational, nonorganizational and subjective religiosity. The proposed model provides good fit with regard to the data and exogenous variables. Socialstatus antecedents of religious involvement such as age, gender, marital status, income, education, urbanicity and region were also examined and found to predict religious involvement.
Publication Name: Journals of Gerontology
Subject: Seniors
ISSN: 0022-1422
Year: 1992
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: A longitudinal study of cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function in health older adults. Reasons given by older people for limitation or avoidance of leisure time physical activity
- Abstracts: Underutilization of controller and rescue medications among older adults with asthma requiring hospital care
- Abstracts: Patterns of resource allocation are reliable among younger and older readers. The influence of expertise and task factors on age differences in pilot communication
- Abstracts: The relation of pain to depression among institutionalized aged. Incidence of depression in long-term care settings
- Abstracts: Value of combined assessment of physical health and functional status in community-dwelling aged: a prospective study in Florence, Italy