ABSTRACT
Factors that either help reduce risk of earlier death or potentially improve quality of life when dealing with serious illness stand out as important to recognize clinically in various fields of medical treatment. Over the past decades, quantitative research has increasingly studied potential links between religious/spiritual involvement and mortality among various types of study populations, including regional, national, and international community samples, as well as patient populations in the United States. This article provides an overview of findings regarding these various study populations and the potential relevance of religious/spiritual involvement to longevity.
