Four Reasons Why Attending Church Can Improve the Health of Seniors
Going to church is good for you.
Churchgoers have lower blood pressure, better immune function, and lower rates of certain mental illnesses, such as depression. Researchers have uncovered several reasons this might be the case, some of which are particularly relevant to people over the age of 65. Read on to learn four reasons why attending church can improve the health of seniors.
Stronger Social Support
Humans are a social species, and connection with other people is a key driver of our psychological health. People who attend church have regular social interaction with people who share their beliefs and values. On top of that, people who go to the same church tend to look out for each other. It’s common for people to check in on friends who don’t show up one Sunday to make sure everything is OK. That sense of community, of knowing you have people to talk to, people who will be with you through the good and the bad times, can make a huge difference to your mental health, especially in later years, when some people can feel lonelier and more isolated.
Healthier Behaviors
As you age, your risk of experiencing problems with your liver, lungs, and heart increases, making healthy life choices all the more important. People who go to church regularly tend to make better health choices than people who don’t. They smoke less, drink less alcohol, are less likely to use recreational drugs, and are less promiscuous.
This is partly because of the development of discipline. Psychologists have found that if you build up your discipline in one area of your life, it spills over into other areas. Churchgoers develop their self-discipline by living their life according to a particular code of ethics, and this strengthens their self-control, making it easier to resist drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.
Building Meaning and Purpose
Going to church connects you to a higher purpose, gives meaning to your life, and provides the opportunity to serve a cause bigger than yourself. This is absolutely crucial in your retirement years. Working life provides meaning and routine to our lives, and when that goes away, it can leave a huge void in its wake. Not filling that void can have serious health consequences.
Psychology Today discusses a study in England which tracked 9,000 people aged over 65, for eight and a half years. The people in this group who had a sense of purpose in their lives were 30 percent less likely to have died over that time period. Church life, and related volunteer work, can provide such a purpose.
Igniting Physical Activity
In addition to finding our higher purpose and choosing healthier habits, many seniors who stay connected with their church community are able to enjoy increased physical activity. Whether that’s through volunteering at the Church of the Good Samaritan or joining fitness groups like Silver Sneakers, the benefits here are multifold. By volunteering with the church community, seniors strengthen their social ties and make a difference, all while making inroads in their physical health.
As you can see, it’s not just the spiritual aspect of religious life that benefits people. Spirituality and faith are important aspects of religious life. However, by themselves, they don’t explain why people who are religious tend to be healthier than people who aren’t. Church attendance and spending time with fellow parishioners is the key factor.
Jason Lewis is a personal trainer, who specializes in helping senior citizens stay fit and healthy. He is also the primary caretaker of his mom after her surgery. He writes for Strong Well and enjoys creating fitness programs that cater to the needs of people over 65.