Exploring Race Differences in a Multidimensional Battery of Prayer Measures among Older Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test for race differences in 17 different measures of prayer. These indicators assess five dimensions of prayer: The social context of prayer, the substantive content of prayer, the length of prayer, interpersonal aspects of prayer, and beliefs about how prayer operates. Pervasive race differences emerged in the data. More specifically, data provided by a nationwide sample of older whites and older African Americans suggest that older blacks are more deeply involved than older whites in 16 of the 17 prayer measures. The length of prayer was the only measure where significant race differences failed to emerge.