中国老年人宗教信仰状况及影响因素研究

The Status and Determinants of the Chinese Elderly's Religious Belief

文章利用2010年第三期中国妇女社会地位调查的全国性数据,对中国65岁及以上老年人宗教信仰状况及影响因素进行实证分析,对老年人宗教信仰进行诠释,揭示老年人宗教信仰的现状及影响因素,回答老年人何时、为何信仰宗教。从信仰宗教老年人的性别构成来看,女性老年人是宗教信仰的主体。通过对老年人宗教信仰时间和原因的分析发现,中年和晚年是老年人信仰宗教的高峰时期,这是因为中晚年生命历程转变时期老年人面临的疾病、家庭、婚姻、人际关系等诸多方面压力的挑战。进一步研究发现,老年人宗教信仰受性别、民族、文化程度等人口学因素、婚姻家庭、城乡地区、社会保障和社会参与等五类因素的显著影响。文章建议进一步完善社会养老服务体系,提高养老保障水平,合理引导老年人的宗教信仰。

Using the 20]0 national survey data of Chinese Womens Social Status,this articale analyses the status and determinants of the religious belif of the eldelrly in China. Results shows that the female elderly have a higher odds on religious belief than the male elderly. Importantly, middle and old - ages are the crucial transitional periods of the elderly＇ s religious belief, because the elderly experience more changes on family and marital relationships and other challenges during this period. Further analy- sis indicates that the religious propensity of the elderly are significantly affected by gender, ethnicity, edu- cational level and other socioeconomic factors. Policy implications are discussed focusing on improving social security and social services systems, and resonably guiding the elderly on religinous belief.