The Association between Religious Participation and Executive Function in Middle- and Older-aged Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

ABSTRACT We investigated the association between religious participation and executive function in a national sample of Canadian adults aged 45 to 85 years. Executive function scores were aggregated from six neurocognitive tests. We regressed the aggregate scores onto religious participation and controlled for numerous covariates. The analyses were stratified by age: 45 to 64 years and ≥ 65 years. In comparison to persons who reported never participating in religious activities, persons who reported daily-weekly participation had statistically significantly lower executive function scores; we observed this finding for both age groups. Associations for monthly-yearly religious participation versus never participating were also inverse yet not necessarily statistically significant at the 5% level. The strongest inverse associations were observed in models adjusted for social networks, social support, and social participation. Our findings mesh with recent research and suggest the need to carefully assess the role of religious participation when promoting executive function. Future research warrants employing longitudinal designs to further investigate the association.