The study was done in the USA where being an atheist means that you are socially unacceptable. This is not so in Europe, Australia, Canada, and other first world countries.

The 'research' was also done during a period of two months that read the obituaries in newspapers and anyone who had a church affiliated with them was considered religious. That is not always true.

For the record, lifespan in Finland is 81.79 years, in Norway is 82..91 years, and in Sweden is 82.96 years. These are all athiest, non-believing countries.

In America, the only first world country where religious belief is dominant, the lifespan is 78.79 years.