Study of Religiousness Among the Elderly

The studies reported in the article “Faith Found to Give Strength to the Elderly” (Oct. 30) are flawed and cannot be taken seriously. In one case, researcher Shirley Owens found that even individuals who no longer recognize family members may benefit from religious practices. In fact, any one-on-one attention, religious or otherwise, will be temporarily therapeutic to a nursing home patient.

In another case, professor Robert W. Duff said his studies showed that “religiously active older people had relatively high life satisfaction ratings.” To begin with, people who rate themselves are seldom objective but try to come across to their interviewers in as positive a light as possible. Then again, any negative admission by a religious person concerning his mental or emotional state would imply that his religious faith was inadequate or lacking.

SID KASH

Manhattan Beach