Religious Participation, Gender Differences, and Cognitive Impairment among the Oldest-Old in China

This study examines if religious participation in China is associated with cognitive functioning among the oldest-old and whether positive psychological feelings and leisure activity engagement explain the association, and gender moderates the association. Logistic regressions were used to analyze t...

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Main Author: Wei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:Journal of Aging Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/160294
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author Wei Zhang
author_facet Wei Zhang
author_sort Wei Zhang
collection DOAJ
description This study examines if religious participation in China is associated with cognitive functioning among the oldest-old and whether positive psychological feelings and leisure activity engagement explain the association, and gender moderates the association. Logistic regressions were used to analyze the Chinese Healthy Longevity Survey. A significant negative association between religious participation and cognitive impairment was found among the oldest-old and much of the association was mediated by positive psychological feelings and leisure activities. Women reported higher proportion of religious participation, but the cognitive benefits of religious participation were stronger for men. Findings indicate that (a) religious participation is significantly correlated with cognitive functioning in part because the religious oldest-old are more likely to be optimistic and happy and engage in more cognitively stimulating activities; (b) there might be gender differences in religious participation such that the oldest-old men may engage in religious activities that are particularly relevant to cognitive functioning.
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series Journal of Aging Research
spelling doaj-art-cea98669c5444d1e9315ba6ab78b84df2025-08-20T02:19:29ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22122010-01-01201010.4061/2010/160294160294Religious Participation, Gender Differences, and Cognitive Impairment among the Oldest-Old in ChinaWei Zhang0Sociology Department, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2424 Maile Way, Saunders 204, Honolulu, HI 96822, USAThis study examines if religious participation in China is associated with cognitive functioning among the oldest-old and whether positive psychological feelings and leisure activity engagement explain the association, and gender moderates the association. Logistic regressions were used to analyze the Chinese Healthy Longevity Survey. A significant negative association between religious participation and cognitive impairment was found among the oldest-old and much of the association was mediated by positive psychological feelings and leisure activities. Women reported higher proportion of religious participation, but the cognitive benefits of religious participation were stronger for men. Findings indicate that (a) religious participation is significantly correlated with cognitive functioning in part because the religious oldest-old are more likely to be optimistic and happy and engage in more cognitively stimulating activities; (b) there might be gender differences in religious participation such that the oldest-old men may engage in religious activities that are particularly relevant to cognitive functioning.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/160294
spellingShingle Wei Zhang
Religious Participation, Gender Differences, and Cognitive Impairment among the Oldest-Old in China
Journal of Aging Research
title Religious Participation, Gender Differences, and Cognitive Impairment among the Oldest-Old in China
title_full Religious Participation, Gender Differences, and Cognitive Impairment among the Oldest-Old in China
title_fullStr Religious Participation, Gender Differences, and Cognitive Impairment among the Oldest-Old in China
title_full_unstemmed Religious Participation, Gender Differences, and Cognitive Impairment among the Oldest-Old in China
title_short Religious Participation, Gender Differences, and Cognitive Impairment among the Oldest-Old in China
title_sort religious participation gender differences and cognitive impairment among the oldest old in china
url http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/160294
work_keys_str_mv AT weizhang religiousparticipationgenderdifferencesandcognitiveimpairmentamongtheoldestoldinchina