Abstract
This study examines the relationship between religious affiliation, importance of religion, and frequency of church attendance
and the reported overall health status and psychological health of children and adolescents by age group (6–11, 12–15, and
16–19 years old), using national data from the Child Development Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Controlling
for child’s initial health, individual and family demographic characteristics, and socio-economic status, differences were
found by age and measures of religion and health. Probit analysis revealed a generally positive and statistically significant
association between religion and health, especially for the psychological health of children ages 12–15. Mitigating the issue
of selection bias on observable characteristics, the Propensity Score Matching analysis generated similar positive associations
between religion and child health. These findings are consistent with the corresponding literature on adults.
and the reported overall health status and psychological health of children and adolescents by age group (6–11, 12–15, and
16–19 years old), using national data from the Child Development Supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Controlling
for child’s initial health, individual and family demographic characteristics, and socio-economic status, differences were
found by age and measures of religion and health. Probit analysis revealed a generally positive and statistically significant
association between religion and health, especially for the psychological health of children ages 12–15. Mitigating the issue
of selection bias on observable characteristics, the Propensity Score Matching analysis generated similar positive associations
between religion and child health. These findings are consistent with the corresponding literature on adults.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-21
- DOI 10.1007/s10834-012-9312-5
- Authors
- Barry R. Chiswick, Department of Economics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Donka M. Mirtcheva, Department of Economics, The College of New Jersey, Business Building, 114, 2000 Pennington Road, P.O. Box 7718, Ewing, NJ 08628, USA
- Journal Journal of Family and Economic Issues
- Online ISSN 1573-3475
- Print ISSN 1058-0476