Attending Worship Services Keeps You Alive Longer
Worship is good for your health: Vanderbilt study
In a recently published journal article, CRMH associate director, Dr. Marino Bruce identifies how and why attending worship services is good for your health.
People who attend services at a church, synagogue or mosque are less stressed and live longer, according to new research from Vanderbilt University.
“Sometimes in health science we tend to look at those things that are always negative and say, ‘Don’t do this. Don’t do that,’” said Marino Bruce, a social and behavioral scientist and associate director of the Center for Research on Men’s Health at Vanderbilt.
The new research findings, however, are “encouraging individuals to participate in something,” he said.
According to the study, middle-aged (ages 40 to 65) adults – both men and women – who attend church or other houses of worship reduce their risk for mortality by 55 percent.
“Our findings support the overall hypothesis that increased religiosity – as determined by attendance at worship services – is associated with less stress and enhanced longevity,” said Bruce, a research associate professor of medicine, health and society at Vanderbilt. He is also a Baptist minister.
“We’ve found that being in a place where you can flex those spiritual muscles is actually beneficial for your health,” Bruce said.
To read the official press release, click here.
Worship attendance study in the News:
English-speaking press:
USA Today - Can attending church really help you live longer? This study says yes
Today - Going to church might be good for your health, says new Vanderbilt study
ScienceDaily - Worship is good for your health, suggests study
Fox17 News Nashville - Want to be less stressed and live longer? Vanderbilt study says go to church
The Christian Times - Attending church can lead to longer life, new study claims
Chicago Sun Times - Can attending church really help you live longer? This study says yes
WCNC.com - Attending church can help you live longer, study says
MuslimPress - Study shows attending religious services prolongs life
Caribbean360 - Study: Church Goers have better health, longer life expectancy and less stress
TorontoSun - Hallelujah! Churchgoers are less-stressed, live longer: study