TY - JOUR
T1 - Auspicious or suspicious
T2 - Does religiosity really promote elder well-being? Examining the belief-as-benefit effect among older Japanese
AU - Schuurmans-Stekhoven, James Benjamin
N1 - Includes bibliographical references
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - Recent findings suggest that the belief-as-benefit effect (BABE) — the positive association between religiosity and health/well-being — is a spurious correlation voided by personality traits. The current paper investigates the cross-sectional relationships among personality, religiosity and psychological well-being in an older adult sample randomly-selected from Tokyo, Japan. Correlation and Hierarchical Regression Modelling (HRM)—with a two one-sided test (TOST) of equivalence—is utilized. The standard BABE correlation is reproduced. However, HRM utilizing a meaningful benchmark of effect (β ≥.15) largely neuters the result after controlling for trait agreeableness and conscientiousness. Religiosity does remain statistically related to the purpose in life and positive relationships sub-scales; though it explains just a sliver of variance in both instances. Compared to religiosity, agreeableness, conscientiousness and education level were more substantial and consistent well-being predictors. Whether religiosity auspices the psychological health of older Japanese adults thus remains to be established.
AB - Recent findings suggest that the belief-as-benefit effect (BABE) — the positive association between religiosity and health/well-being — is a spurious correlation voided by personality traits. The current paper investigates the cross-sectional relationships among personality, religiosity and psychological well-being in an older adult sample randomly-selected from Tokyo, Japan. Correlation and Hierarchical Regression Modelling (HRM)—with a two one-sided test (TOST) of equivalence—is utilized. The standard BABE correlation is reproduced. However, HRM utilizing a meaningful benchmark of effect (β ≥.15) largely neuters the result after controlling for trait agreeableness and conscientiousness. Religiosity does remain statistically related to the purpose in life and positive relationships sub-scales; though it explains just a sliver of variance in both instances. Compared to religiosity, agreeableness, conscientiousness and education level were more substantial and consistent well-being predictors. Whether religiosity auspices the psychological health of older Japanese adults thus remains to be established.
KW - Agreeableness
KW - Conscientiousness
KW - Incremental validity
KW - Religiosity
KW - Well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058241463&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85058241463&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2018.12.005
DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2018.12.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 30554036
AN - SCOPUS:85058241463
SN - 0167-4943
VL - 81
SP - 129
EP - 135
JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
ER -