Church attendance and CMV herpes virus latency among bereaved and non-bereaved adults

Bibliographic Data

ID21207285
AuthorsLuz M Garcini (0000-0002-3834-9107, Rice University), Raymond P Stowe (Microgen (United States)), Diana A Chirinos (0000-0002-8571-1009, Rice University), Kyle W Murdock (0000-0001-7982-443X, Rice University), Angie S Leroy (0000-0003-2143-7634, University of Houston), Michelle A Chen (0000-0002-1020-7940, Rice University), Jun Zhang (0000-0003-1706-1611, Baylor College of Medicine), Christopher P Fagundes (0000-0003-2526-9025, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center), Christopher Fagundes
Year2019
Volume11
Issue3
Pages319-325
Publication date2019-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychology of Religion and Spirituality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1943-1562 • E-ISSN: 1941-1022
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/rel0000222
PMID31485287
OpenAlexW2890498495
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited17

OBJECTIVE: There is widespread literature linking church attendance to physical health. However, little is known about the association of church attendance and the immune system, particularly during difficult life transitions. This study investigated the association between church attendance and CMV herpes-virus latency by assessing Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG antibody titers among bereaved and non-bereaved individuals. METHODS: Participants included 44 bereaved individuals and 44 controls with a mean age of 68 (SD=12.84). CMV herpes-virus latency was measured using CMV IgG antibody titers. Church attendance was measured using three items from the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) Questionnaire. RESULTS: After adjusting for participant's age, gender, education, minority status, weekly alcohol consumption, smoking, depression, body mass index (BMI) and comorbidities, church attendance was associated with lower CMV IgG antibody titers among bereaved and control participants. Further, there was a significant moderating effect of church attendance in the association between bereavement status and CMV IgG antibody titers, so that bereaved individuals attending church were found to have less herpes-virus reactivation (lower CMV IgG antibody titers) when compared to their bereaved counterparts that do not attend church. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that church attendance is associated with less herpes-virus reactivation as indexed by lower levels of CMV IgG antibody titers, particularly among the bereaved. Future studies should focus on further understanding the pathways by which church attendance impacts CMV herpes-virus latency during stressful life events, such as bereavement

Attendance · Church attendance · Psychotherapist · Clinical Psychology · Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Virology

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