The Belonging Effect: What Faith Communities Can Teach Us About Longevity

In studying the blue zones, where the world’s longest-lived people are found, Dan Buettner and his team of researchers famously observed that they led similar lifestyles. This discovery became known as the Power 9®: a list of evidence-backed habits that support health and longevity. Often, discussions highlight items like natural movement and plant-forward eating, while belonging to a faith community goes overlooked.

Of the many factors feeding the U.S. loneliness epidemic, one may be the crumbling pillar of faith. For generations, religious structures provided not just spiritual fulfilment, but social and emotional support. Moreover, research shows that active members of congregations tend to be happier, live longer, and get more involved in community.

Yet traditional religious engagement has declined. Today, 58% of baby boomers attend weekly faith services, compared to 32% of millennials and 18% of Gen Z. As religious participation dwindles, finding structures that can offer the same sense of belonging as faith communities remains important.

What’s belonging, anyway?

The Power 9 pillar of Belong is often confused for the pillar of Connect, since both involve community. The most famous example of Connect is that of the Okinawans and their use of moais. These are friend groups that provide lifelong companionship and demonstrate how supportive social networks can positively impact health.

On the other hand, Belong refers to communities of belief. Of the 263 centenarians interviewed by Buettner, all but five belonged to a religious group. This aligns with other longevity research findings. A 1999 study found that attending religious services four times a month can increase life expectancy by 4-14 years. A 2016 Harvard-led study found that mortalities of all causes were 33% lower among women who attended services more than once a week.

How does it work?

Faith communities are unique in that they can help people feel understood on an existential level. While the friends in your run club may share your hobbies, the people in your faith group may share your values and outlook on life. This opens the door to a depth of conversation that may not be available in other pockets of society.

And depth may be exactly what people are yearning for. A 2022 study examined conversations between strangers and found that participants felt happier and more connected after substantive discussions than they did after small talk. Many faith spaces routinely engage with weighty subjects like death, loss, and the meaning of life. This can make space to unpack topics that aren’t prioritized in other relationships or environments.

It can also be comforting and validating to partner with people who process the world through a shared framework. But beyond allowing people to feel seen, active faith can support physical health by setting behavioral standards. It’s not uncommon for faiths to discourage smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, both of which are known health hazards.

Some groups promote specific dietary frameworks, be it vegetarianism or eating decadent foods in moderation. In the blue zones region of Ikaria—where many people are Greek Orthodox—fasting is a normal part of religious life. Though it’s done for spiritual reasons, it has physical benefits. Research shows that fasting can slow the aging process for mammals in general and, more recently, for humans specifically.

There is also evidence that belief has mental health benefits, which may explain why the faithful report greater well-being. A literature review of eight studies involving over 3,000 adults found that religious people are more likely to believe that their lives have meaning and add unique value to the world.

This perspective differs from narcissism because it isn’t coupled with a sense of superiority. Instead of “I’m better than others,” the core belief is “I’m in this world for a reason,” or “my life has a greater purpose.” Significantly, multiple scholars have found that a high sense of purpose can add years to our lives. Most blue zones cultures center purpose. From Okinawa to Ikaria, elders can often articulate what drives them to keep going.

In his travels, Buettner spent time with a 100-year-old woman who was purpose personified. She rose at dawn to read her Bible, then hopped on her stationary bike and spent her days driving to various volunteer engagements. As a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) in Loma Linda, California, she was part of a community that outlives much of the American population.

The SDA denomination encourages plant-forward eating while discouraging smoking and excessive drinking. It also promotes helping others and creates opportunities to do so. Volunteering can stave off loneliness by expanding social networks. It’s also linked to a range of positive health outcomes, including longer life span, lower hypertension risk, and higher psychological well-being.

In the words of Dan Buettner, “healthy centenarians everywhere have faith.” Beyond the orthodoxy of the Ikarians, the Sardinians and Nicoyans are mostly Catholic, and Okinawans believe their ancestors live on. Undoubtedly, these people face some of the same challenges that others do outside the blue zones regions. But they differ in the fundamental belief that those burdens don’t rest solely on their shoulders.

This is not the same thing as thinking one’s fate is completely determined by outside forces, which psychologists would describe as an external locus of control. Instead, it’s a belief in a higher power who can do the things that are beyond your own limitations. This can mitigate a range of challenges, including depressive symptoms and anxiety.

Ultimately, a wealth of research evidence connects belonging to a faith community to various benefits that meaningfully improve both length and quality of life.

How to apply this research to your life

In our work with cities, communities, and campuses, we help people apply the Blue Zones Power 9 principle of Belong to their lives. Because individual experiences with religious communities vary widely, and some may carry pain or exclusion, we encourage people to explore spirituality in their own way.

• Try a meditation circle or breathwork class
• Explore a new faith or interfaith community
• Sign up for a neighborhood volunteer activity (service as a form of spiritual practice)
• Participate in nature-based gatherings (forest bathing, sunrise or sunset hikes)
• Join a creative collective (art, music, or writing workshops offer opportunities for reflection and expression)
• Take a Purpose Workshop (guided reflections and activities for exploring one’s life purpose)

The goal is to explore a new spiritual practice that speaks to you –  ideally one that nurtures reflection, gratitude, and belonging – and then find and participate in a wider community.

Nonjabulo Mlangeni is a writer, researcher, and editor based in California. She focuses on health, equity, and creative nonfiction.