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Can Going to Church Help Me Live Longer?

By Mark Stibich, Ph.D., About.com

Updated: January 12, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Question: Can Going to Church Help Me Live Longer?
Answer: Going to Church, temple, mosque, synagogue or other religious services has been shown to add 2 to 3 years onto your life expectancy in a review of studies published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine by Dr. Daniel Hall. The studies reviewed consider other explanations (like sick people can't go to services as often) and still the church goers live longer. Researchers think this is because of increased social interaction and greater sense of purpose.
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