A recent study by researchers at LSU found that elderly churchgoers are more likely to miss service if they are smokers. As church attendance rates drop across the nation, the researchers say churches might do well to get more actively involved in their congregants’ health, especially when it comes to smoking.
“Smoking cessation and preventing the onset of smoking, not only is it enormously impactful on their members’ well being, but it also affects who’s going to be in the pews,” said Sam Stroope, LSU sociology professor and one of the authors of the study.
The study focused on a subset of the overall population, older Mexican-Americans, a group that Stroope said was especially interesting because of the lack of research on older Hispanic Americans.
This is despite the growing presence of Hispanic Americans in U.S. society overall. By about 2060, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that about one-third of older Americans will be non-white, with Hispanics being the fastest-growing group.
Not just the nation, but Louisiana too has become a more popular destination for immigrants, the majority of them Hispanic.. But Stroope posits that the group’s findings help to confirm discoveries made in studies covering a diverse set of people.
Across the ethnic and racial spectrum, Stroope pointed out, health issues pose one of the most significant barriers to church participation among older adults, an age group that otherwise would form one of the most devout demographics. Attendance at religious congregations tends to increase after age 65, to decline again a decade or so later, often because of health challenges.
Roman Catholicism and Evangelical Christianity are the predominant faith traditions found among both Mexican-Americans and Louisiana residents.
Especially when it comes to Catholic congregations, this research might provide some food for thought, Stroope suggested. “More liberal Protestant denominations, as well as Catholics are more lenient, there’s less stigma around smoking,” Stroope said. That, he points out, might cause them to lose more of their elderly congregants once the health impacts of smoking become a barrier to attendance.
‘This is something that Catholics and a variety of religious groups could perhaps think more pointedly about,” Stroope said, suggesting that churches might want to consider a more active approach to promoting smoking cessation methods.
Sidney Morales, pastor of the non-denominational Royal Lineage Church in Lafayette, said his church has helped several members quit smoking through internal counseling, prayer and support.
“We’re determined to help people have that abundant life that Jesus wants to give,” Morales said.
According to Morales, his church has the largest Hispanic congregation in the city, with around 300 people attending the Spanish-language service on Sundays. Generally speaking, he noted, Hispanic churches and congregations tend to be more strict when it comes to smoking, for example not allowing congregants to smoke in the church parking lot.
His congregation, Morales said, has a focus on ensuring members’ health. For example, there’s a group of women churchgoers who exchange healthy nutrition tips in a group chat on the WhatsApp messenger service.
To take care of one’s own health doesn’t just ensure a continued ability to attend church, something that numerous studies have shown to have positive health impacts, but it’s also the duty of anyone who follows the Christian faith.
“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given to you by God,” Morales said, quoting the famous verse from 1 Corinthians. “So you must take care of your body,” he added. “That should be taught in our churches.”
A recent study by researchers at LSU found that elderly churchgoers are more likely to miss service if they are smokers. As church attendance rates drop across the nation, the researchers say churches might do well to get more actively involved in their congregants’ health, especially when it comes to smoking.
“Smoking cessation and preventing the onset of smoking, not only is it enormously impactful on their members’ well being, but it also affects who’s going to be in the pews,” said Sam Stroope, LSU sociology professor and one of the authors of the study.
The study focused on a subset of the overall population, older Mexican-Americans, a group that Stroope said was especially interesting because of the lack of research on older Hispanic Americans.
This is despite the growing presence of Hispanic Americans in U.S. society overall. By about 2060, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that about one-third of older Americans will be non-white, with Hispanics being the fastest-growing group.
Not just the nation, but Louisiana too has become a more popular destination for immigrants, the majority of them Hispanic.. But Stroope posits that the group’s findings help to confirm discoveries made in studies covering a diverse set of people.
Across the ethnic and racial spectrum, Stroope pointed out, health issues pose one of the most significant barriers to church participation among older adults, an age group that otherwise would form one of the most devout demographics. Attendance at religious congregations tends to increase after age 65, to decline again a decade or so later, often because of health challenges.
Roman Catholicism and Evangelical Christianity are the predominant faith traditions found among both Mexican-Americans and Louisiana residents.
Especially when it comes to Catholic congregations, this research might provide some food for thought, Stroope suggested. “More liberal Protestant denominations, as well as Catholics are more lenient, there’s less stigma around smoking,” Stroope said. That, he points out, might cause them to lose more of their elderly congregants once the health impacts of smoking become a barrier to attendance.
‘This is something that Catholics and a variety of religious groups could perhaps think more pointedly about,” Stroope said, suggesting that churches might want to consider a more active approach to promoting smoking cessation methods.
Sidney Morales, pastor of the non-denominational Royal Lineage Church in Lafayette, said his church has helped several members quit smoking through internal counseling, prayer and support.
“We’re determined to help people have that abundant life that Jesus wants to give,” Morales said.
According to Morales, his church has the largest Hispanic congregation in the city, with around 300 people attending the Spanish-language service on Sundays. Generally speaking, he noted, Hispanic churches and congregations tend to be more strict when it comes to smoking, for example not allowing congregants to smoke in the church parking lot.
His congregation, Morales said, has a focus on ensuring members’ health. For example, there’s a group of women churchgoers who exchange healthy nutrition tips in a group chat on the WhatsApp messenger service.
To take care of one’s own health doesn’t just ensure a continued ability to attend church, something that numerous studies have shown to have positive health impacts, but it’s also the duty of anyone who follows the Christian faith.
“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given to you by God,” Morales said, quoting the famous verse from 1 Corinthians. “So you must take care of your body,” he added. “That should be taught in our churches.”
A recent study by researchers at LSU found that elderly churchgoers are more likely to miss service if they are smokers. As church attendance rates drop across the nation, the researchers say churches might do well to get more actively involved in their congregants’ health, especially when it comes to smoking.
“Smoking cessation and preventing the onset of smoking, not only is it enormously impactful on their members’ well being, but it also affects who’s going to be in the pews,” said Sam Stroope, LSU sociology professor and one of the authors of the study.
The study focused on a subset of the overall population, older Mexican-Americans, a group that Stroope said was especially interesting because of the lack of research on older Hispanic Americans.
This is despite the growing presence of Hispanic Americans in U.S. society overall. By about 2060, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that about one-third of older Americans will be non-white, with Hispanics being the fastest-growing group.
Not just the nation, but Louisiana too has become a more popular destination for immigrants, the majority of them Hispanic.. But Stroope posits that the group’s findings help to confirm discoveries made in studies covering a diverse set of people.
Across the ethnic and racial spectrum, Stroope pointed out, health issues pose one of the most significant barriers to church participation among older adults, an age group that otherwise would form one of the most devout demographics. Attendance at religious congregations tends to increase after age 65, to decline again a decade or so later, often because of health challenges.
Roman Catholicism and Evangelical Christianity are the predominant faith traditions found among both Mexican-Americans and Louisiana residents.
Especially when it comes to Catholic congregations, this research might provide some food for thought, Stroope suggested. “More liberal Protestant denominations, as well as Catholics are more lenient, there’s less stigma around smoking,” Stroope said. That, he points out, might cause them to lose more of their elderly congregants once the health impacts of smoking become a barrier to attendance.
‘This is something that Catholics and a variety of religious groups could perhaps think more pointedly about,” Stroope said, suggesting that churches might want to consider a more active approach to promoting smoking cessation methods.
Sidney Morales, pastor of the non-denominational Royal Lineage Church in Lafayette, said his church has helped several members quit smoking through internal counseling, prayer and support.
“We’re determined to help people have that abundant life that Jesus wants to give,” Morales said.
According to Morales, his church has the largest Hispanic congregation in the city, with around 300 people attending the Spanish-language service on Sundays. Generally speaking, he noted, Hispanic churches and congregations tend to be more strict when it comes to smoking, for example not allowing congregants to smoke in the church parking lot.
His congregation, Morales said, has a focus on ensuring members’ health. For example, there’s a group of women churchgoers who exchange healthy nutrition tips in a group chat on the WhatsApp messenger service.
To take care of one’s own health doesn’t just ensure a continued ability to attend church, something that numerous studies have shown to have positive health impacts, but it’s also the duty of anyone who follows the Christian faith.
“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given to you by God,” Morales said, quoting the famous verse from 1 Corinthians. “So you must take care of your body,” he added. “That should be taught in our churches.”