Effects of Religiosity Dimensions on Physical Health across Non-elderly Black and White American Panels

This investigation—based on a three-wave national panel of Black and White Americans aged 64 or younger at wave one—gauges variation across races in the indirect, moderating, and direct effects of public and subjective religiosity on a latent physical health outcome comprising chronic illnesses, subjective health, and functional limitations. The multi-population LISREL model specifically addresses the mechanisms through which religiosity is typically presumed to indirectly foster health: enhancement of social support and self-appraisals, and suppression of stress-exposure and unhealthy habits. The extent to which religiosity buffers or exacerbates the impact of specific stressors is also examined. The impact of religiosity on health appears to hinge on race and religiosity dimension: Public religiosity indirectly enhances Blacks’ health slightly, and apparently buffers any negative impact of financial strain on their health. Public religiosity does not influence Whites’ health; and subjective religiosity does not influence health in either race. The models control for multiple socio-demographic factors.