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Prayer, Attachment to God, and Changes in Psychological Well-Being in Later Life

Overview
Journal J Aging Health
Publisher Sage Publications
Specialty Geriatrics
Date 2017 May 30
PMID 28553805
Citations 16
Authors
Affiliations
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Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prayer and attachment to God on psychological well-being (PWB) in later life.

Method: Using data from two waves of the nationwide Religion, Aging, and Health Survey, we estimate the associations between frequency of prayer and attachment to God at baseline with cross-wave changes in three measures of PWB: self-esteem, optimism, and life satisfaction.

Results: Prayer does not have a main effect on PWB. Secure attachment to God is associated with improvements in optimism but not self-esteem or life satisfaction. The relationship between prayer and PWB is moderated by attachment to God; prayer is associated with improvements in PWB among securely attached individuals but not those who are insecurely attached to God.

Discussion: These findings shed light on the complex relationship between prayer and PWB by showing that the effects of prayer are contingent upon one's perceived relationship with God.

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