Religion’s Influence on Successful Aging: Mediating Mechanisms of Life Satisfaction and Depressive Symptoms Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Brazil

The global rise in the aging population highlights the need to understand factors contributing to successful aging. Intrinsic religiosity, defined as a deep, personal commitment to religious beliefs and practices, impacts well-being and mental health in older adults. This cross-sectional study investigates how life satisfaction and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between intrinsic religiosity and successful aging. A sample of 538 Brazilian older adults (ages 60-101, M = 69.72, SD = 7.92; 58.6% female) completed the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the HADS Depression Scale, the Successful Aging Scale, and the Duke Religion Index. Sequential mediation analysis was conducted. Intrinsic religiosity significantly influenced successful aging indirectly through life satisfaction and depressive symptoms, with no significant direct effect. These findings suggest that intrinsic religiosity may enhance the successful aging of older adults by improving life satisfaction and reducing depressive symptoms. Integrating these insights into social policies, that is, supporting older adults' intrinsic religiosity, might help many Brazilian older adults achieve successful aging.