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Church going women live longer

Going to church or any kind of religious service, may prolong your life.

A new study shows that older women who regularly attend religious services reduce their risk of death by 20%. Researchers from Yeshiva University in America grouped all religions together, looking only at whether the women surveyed attended services regularly and whether those services brought them comfort.

Over 92,000 women aged between 50 and 79, answered questions about their behaviors, health, and religious practices. The research was for an average of 7.7 years and made adjustments for known risk factors, such as age and health history, when evaluating risk of death. They found that women attending religious services at least once per week showed a 20% mortality risk reduction compared to those not attending services at all.

Organized religion creates a social network with regular routines, which is known to enhance well-being. However, even when researchers adjusted for that factor, the women going to services were likely to live longer.

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