• M Beatriz Fernández Lorca.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Instituto de Sociología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Santiago, Chile.
• Colomb Medica. 2022 Apr 1; 53 (2): e2004846e2004846.

ObjectiveTo establish the association between different dimensions of religiosity - organizational, non-organizational and intrinsic - and physical and functional health indicators in older people in Chile.MethodsData from the Fifth Survey on Quality of Life in Old Age 2019 were used. Descriptive and explanatory analyses were performed using logistic, linear and multinomial regression models, with dependent variables being self-perception of health, functional dependence, number of chronic diseases and perception of health compared with other people of the same age. As predictors, indicators of the three dimensions of religiosity (DUREL Scale) were included, controlling for the MOS-SS Social Support Scale, Apgar Family Functioning Scale, educational level, gender, age, and living with a partner.ResultsAlmost a third of older Chileans attend religious services frequently, and half of them pray frequently. On a range of 1 to 5, the mean intrinsic religiosity is 3.94. 46% perceive their health to be good/very good and about half perceive their health as better than their peers. On 0 to 5, the mean number of chronic diseases is 1.69. 6% are classified as functionally dependent. The only significant relationship observed was between religious attendance and a lower probability of presenting functional dependency; on the other hand, praying increases such probabilities and a relationship between attendance and a better perception of health compared with other people of the same age.ConclusionOrganisational religiosity is a psychosocial resource that is positively associated with the process of successful aging.Copyright © 2022 Colombia Medica.

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