Religion, Religiosity, and Smoking Among Older Adults: Results from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil), 2019–2021

Religion and religiosity have long been associated with various health outcomes and behaviors. This study explored the relationship between religion/religiosity and smoking among 8,703 participants enrolled in The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil). The logistic regression model was used to test this association, which was then adjusted for sociodemographic factors, health indicators, and alcohol consumption. The results evidenced a negative association between smoking and religious affiliation, as well as the frequency of religious attendance. These results suggest that incorporating religious and spiritual considerations into health care strategies could be beneficial in reducing smoking rates among the elderly population, potentially improving overall health outcomes within this group.