ABSTRACT
Research on religious practice at home or in the private sphere has been sparse and results tend to be less consistent. Some studies found support for positive effect of private religious activity on longevity while others find no relationship, and yet others find that the association depends on initial health status. This chapter begins with a look at the current ageing situation in Taiwan. It then examines the association between private and public religious practice and transitions in disability and mortality among elderly Taiwanese using a nationally representative longitudinal dataset. Furthermore, the health and life expectancy of older adults in Taiwan may have been greatly affected by Taiwan's introduction of a Universal Health Insurance Program in 1995. The benefits of religious activity extend beyond longevity to other health outcomes such as functional health. The religious landscape of East Asia in general and Taiwan in particular is very different from the US and other European countries.
