Religion, Social Capital, and Health

Abstract

Religion's association with better physical health has been partially explained by health behaviors, psychosocial variables, and biological factors; but these factors do not fully explain the religion–health connection. In concert with the religion and health literature, a burgeoning literature has linked social capital with salubrious health outcomes. Religious organizations are recognized in the social capital literature as producers and facilitators of social capital. However, few studies have examined the potential mediating role of social capital in the religion–health relationship. Thus data from the 2006 Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey were analyzed for 10,828 adults. The composite unstandardized indirect effect from religion to social capital onto health was significant (β = 0.098; p < 0.001). The unstandardized direct pathway from religion to self-reported health (β = 0.015; p = 0.336) indicated that social capital is a mediator in the religion–health relationship. Among the demographic variables investigated, only age and income had a significant direct effect on self-reported health.