Positive Effects of Religion and Social Ties on the Health of Former NFL Athletes

Tim Cupery; Evelyn Bush; Robert W Turner; Amanda Sonnega; Teri Rosales; Kalpana Vissa; Keith E Whitfield; James S Jackson; David Weir

doi:10.1007/s10943-021-01338-y

Positive Effects of Religion and Social Ties on the Health of Former NFL Athletes

J Relig Health. 2023 Apr;62(2):1324-1342. doi: 10.1007/s10943-021-01338-y. Epub 2021 Jul 27.

Authors

Tim Cupery¹, Evelyn Bush², Robert W Turner³, Amanda Sonnega⁴, Teri Rosales⁵, Kalpana Vissa³, Keith E Whitfield⁶, James S Jackson⁷, David Weir⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sociology, College of Social Sciences, California State University - Fresno, 534 N. Campus Dr. M/S SS97, Fresno, CA, 93740, USA. timcupery@gmail.com.
² Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Fordham University, Dealy Hall 406D, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY, 10458, USA.
³ Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, 2600 Virginia Ave NW T100, Washington, DC, 20037, USA.
⁴ Survey Research Center of the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, P.O. Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA.
⁵ Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Office of the Provost, University of Michigan, 3050 Fleming Administration Building, 503 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
⁶ Psychology Department, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Ave., 7th Floor, Suite 7908, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
⁷ Department of Psychology, College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts, University of Michigan, 1004 East Hall, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA.
⁸ Population Studies Center of the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, P. O. Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA.

PMID: 34313910
DOI: 10.1007/s10943-021-01338-y

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between religious service attendance, social ties, and health among former NFL players, a population with relatively high levels of religious attendance who endure physically demanding occupations. Research shows that frequent religious service attenders tend to have better health, partly because of social connections formed through religious involvement. We analyzed a sample of 1029 former NFL players. Consistent with previous research, bivariate and multivariate OLS regression models show that frequent religious attenders have statistically significantly better self-rated health. However, this relationship is moderated by social ties. Respondents who scored lower on the social ties index exhibited a stronger significant relationship between frequent religious attendance and health; those scoring higher on the social ties index exhibited no relationship between frequent attendance and health. Future research should examine how benefits of religious attendance vary depending upon strength of social relationships.

Keywords: NFL athletes; Religious service attendance; Self-rated health; Social ties.

MeSH terms

Humans
Interpersonal Relations*
Religion*

Abstract

MeSH terms

Grants and funding