Adolescent Practice of Religious Worship, http://www.manhattaninstitute.org/pdf/crrucs_objective_hope.pdf, http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2016/04/Religion-in-Everyday-Life-FINAL.pdf, http://marri.us/wp-content/uploads/MA-49-51-165.pdf, http://marri.us/wp-content/uploads/MA-34-36-160.pdf, http://marri.us/wp-content/uploads/MA-140.pdf, http://marri.us/wp-content/uploads/MA-141.pdf, 95 Social Science Reasons for Religious Worship and Practice, Why Religion Matters Even More: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability. Additional stress in these … The first of these, the ‘any pathway’ interpretation, considers that spirituality/religion can influence health through any of the four pathways noted above (health behaviors, social support, psychological states and psi influences). These facets can have a large positive impact on mental health— research suggests that religiosity reduces suicide rates, alcoholism and drug use. Hormones and Behavior, 10, 54-60. Hummer, R.A., Rogers, R.G., Nam, C.B. Effects of Ramadan fasting on lipid peroxidation, serum lipoproteins, and fasting blood sugar. & Blazer, D.G. Woods, T.E., Antoni, M.H., Ironson, G.H. Surveys show that people would like to be able to talk about matters of faith in psychological treatment. To many people, it offers the only hope that they can get. “Regardless of whether the patient has decision making capacity, clinicians should try to determine whether patients’ religious and spiritual beliefs may affect the kind of medical care that is respectful of what is important to the patient as a person,” White said. Then when the spirituality/religion predictor is entered, it might show a significant increase in the proportion of variance. Here is a collection of guidance for providers of health and spiritual care, for working effectively and sensitively with persons of various religious beliefs. Yes, religion does affect your mental health, and as the stats show, it affects positively. Moreover, four interpretations of how spirituality/religion influence health have been proposed. & Martin, L.R. Religion’s influence on patient care is expressed in prayer requests, in clinician-chaplain collaborations, and through health care organizations’ religious accommodations for patients and staff. & Ellison, C.G. Kutner, N.G., Lin, L.S., Fielding, B., Brogan, D. & Hall, W.D. There is also a strong social networking benefit of a shared activity that is often emotionally uplifting. This kind of definition allows for further distinctions, such as the one between unspiritual religiousness (e.g., observing some practices for the social benefits), or unreligious spirituality (e.g., mystical experiences of individuals without a religious context). The Breast Cancer Journal, 7, 345-353. Lower lipid peroxide levels in practitioners of the transcendental meditation program. Religion and spirituality: Linkages to physical health. "The Influence of Religion on Health." Religious struggle as a predictor of mortality among medically ill elderly patients: A 2-year longitudinal study. Religious involvement and U.S. adult mortality. The difficulty in conceptualizing spirituality/religion comes from the multidimensionality of these concepts (Miller & Thorensen, 2003), and extends to the problem of how exactly spirituality/religion influence health. ISSN: 2153-5760. People are still... Shame is an adaptive emotion. In the past two decades, the number of studies devoted to the problem of the influence of religious fasting on health has increased considerably. The American Journal of Sociology, 97, 1052-1079. Retrieved from http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/a?id=367, Basu-Zharku, Iulia O. 5.Religion also sometimes forbids the practice of birth control or preventive practices of immunization. Hixon, K.A., Gruchow, H.W. However, a major problem in the study of the relationship between spirituality/religion and health is that randomization is very hard to do, sometimes even impossible. This ability to empower could be used by health psychologists in medical settings (and not only) to help those who struggle with a disease or to promote a healthier lifestyle. (1997). Emotions, the way that we feel in a particular moment, are also involved in how we respond to others. For others, religion and spirituality may be sources of problems that need to be addressed in the service of their health and well-being. Previously considered as outside of the sphere of research for the perceived impossibility in using any scientific method to study it, religion is now prominent in scientific studies that investigate its influence on health (Miller & Thorensen, 2003). Effects of Religious Practice on Health. Religious involvement and mortality: A meta-analytic review. Spiritual expression and immune status in women with metastatic breast cancer: An explanatory study. Religion can create many communities by sharing the same faiths, beliefs and values; however community has numerous associations depending on how it is used and in what context. McCullough, M.E., Hoyt, W.T., Larson, D.B., Koenig, H.G. Religious belief impacts human health in a variety of ways, from blood pressure to psychological well-being. The Ironson-Woods spirituality/religiousness index is associated with long survival, health behaviors, less distress, and low cortisol in people with HIV/AIDS. Dealing with the issue of healthcare is no small challenge for any country, either rich or poor. The study puts forth a new theoretical model: Religion provides a set of rules and beliefs guiding behavior, while spirituality offers methods for managing emotions internally and regulating the experience and expression of those emotions. These negative thoughts associated with religion can be linked to higher rates of depression and lower quality of life. The same study reported that women who were already depressed were less likely to attend religious services weekly or more, which in turn can worsen their depression.30) Levels of depression were also lower for those who participated in religious services than they were for those who only prayed on their own.31), Studies have found that adolescents who frequently attended religious services and had a high level of spiritual support from others in their community had the lowest levels of depression.32) Adolescents at a school in Texas who frequently attended religious services and derived great meaning and purpose from religion had lower levels of depression than their less religious peers.33) Conversely, a lack of religious affiliation correlated with an increased risk of suicide.34) Immigrant youth likewise enjoyed the benefits of a higher level of general well-being when they attended religious services frequently.35), Men and women who attended church weekly had the lowest mortality rates.36) Religious practice delivered longevity benefits, most significantly by encouraging a support network among family and friends that helped to maintain a pattern of regimented care, reducing one’s mortality risk from infectious diseases and diabetes.37) Greater longevity was consistently and significantly correlated with higher levels of religious practice and involvement, regardless of the sex, race, education, or health history of those studied.38) A review of medical, public health, and social science literature that empirically addressed the link between religion and mortality found that religious practice decreased mortality rates.39) Those who were religiously involved live an average of seven years longer than those who were not. & Patel, M. (1985). "The Influence of Religion on Health." Miller, W.R. & Thorensen, C.E. Religion exists almost as long as does human kind. American Psychologist, 58, 53-63. Expressed beliefs lead to differences in response to illness and disease, influencing health seeking behaviour, interpretation, and ultimately diagnosis by health care practitioners. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17, 2803-2810. Similar issues arise in countries composed of other faiths, such as Islam. & Sherwood, A. But, religions bring in dress changes like wearing a fully covered dress for women or sari for Hindu women. In light of these considerations, Oman and Thorensen (2003) point out that health psychology should cultivate an understanding of how religion and spirituality are felt, lived, and experienced by the populations of interest. We used to worship the strong and big animals, natural assurances like lightning storm and fire. Fasting - partial or total abstinence from any rejection or selective rejection of certain foods prohibited on religious grounds. Religion is not only “researchable,” but it is also of essential interest to clinicians, doctors, patients and health psychologists. In a world dominated by a culture of consumption, religion offers a venue for individuals to commit to something beyond themselves, in addition to empowering the community, overall. In addition, religion can mediate the relationship between the desired quality of life and a particular health outcome. However, because this resource is not investigated and used at its full capacity, health psychology risks promoting a cultural iatrogenesis (healer-induced disability to cope with illness) (Oman & Thorensen, 2003). Asgary, S., Aghaei, F., Naderi, G.A., Kelishadi, R., Gharipour, M. & Azali, S. (2000). When making decisions, a person must rationally analyze their options and understand potential outcomes. Health Psychology, 19, 211-222. (2000). Community plays a huge role in people’s live Religion can also be conceptualized as religiousness, as an individual phenomenon, characterized by the adherence of an individual to specific beliefs and practices (Miller & Thorensen, 2003). Because spirituality/religion influence health through these pathways, they act in an indirect way on health (Oman & Thorensen, 2002). American Journal of Public Health, 88, 1469-1475. The Relationship between Spirituality and Health, The Relationship between Religion and Health, Effects of Collectivistic and Individualistic Cultures on Imagination Inflation in Eastern and Western Cultures, Chinese Women and Christianity in the Late Imperial Era, Gender-Specific Language of the Major Prophets in The Hebrew Bible: The Case of the First and Second Isaiah, Byzantine and Russian Influences in Andrei Rublev's Art, Solving Health Issues in Ethiopia with Religion. &Williams, D.R. Patel, C., Marmot, M.G., Terry, D.J., Carruthers, M., Hunt, B. The average life span of religious blacks was 14 years longer than that of their nonreligious peers.42) Among African Americans (aged 18 to 54), those who attended church more than weekly had an even lower mortality risk than those who attended just once a week or not at all.43), An earlier review of 250 epidemiological health research studies found a reduced risk of colitis, different types of cancer, and untimely death among people with higher levels of religious commitment.44) Conversely, at any age, those who did not attend religious services had higher risks of dying from cirrhosis of the liver, emphysema, arteriosclerosis, and other cardiovascular diseases and were more likely to commit suicide, according to an even earlier review by faculty of the John Hopkins University School of Public Health.45) The most significant pathway by which religious practice delivered these longevity benefits was a lifestyle that reduced the risk of mortality from infectious diseases and diabetes by encouraging a support network among family and friends that helped to maintain a pattern of regimented care.46), Religious organization partner with public health institutions and provide health-related services and resources that promote physical and mental well-being.47) According to a 2014 report by Peter J. Finally, with the aid of community health psychology, the field of health psychology at large should move towards promoting culture as a means of understanding between health care provider and patient and in the interest of prevention, as well. Al-Kandari, Y.Y. ‘Does religion cause health? The focus has been on trait similarity (i.e. Furthermore, religion can affect policy, a prime example arising in the Philippines, where provision of reproductive health services, including family planning and contraception was hampered by the Catholic Church. This empowering happens through consciousness of religious principles, such as the sanctity of human life, shared identity, meaningful roles in the community and society at large, a variety of spiritual, social and economic support, social networks, and even leadership for social change and protection in time of conflicts. Trial of relaxation reducing coronary risk: Four year follow up. Sarri, K.O., Tzanakis, N.E., Linardakis, M.K., Mamalakis, G. D. & Kafatos, A.D. (2003). (2002). Being vigilant regarding spiritual/religious beliefs and practices can lead to earlier patient release dates, … Colantonio, A., Kasl, S.V. Powell, L.H., Shahabi, L. & Thorensen, C.E. & Thorensen, C.E. Patients expect a paternalistic approach-the competent health care professional does not ask patients what they want to do, but tells them what to do. : Differing interpretation and diverse meanings. Disclaimer: content on this website is for informational purposes only. Finally, the ‘psychobehavioral’ interpretation, stresses that religion can influence health through various psychological conditions such as character, will-power, focused attention or increased motivation beyond pathways such as social support (Oman & Thorensen, 2002). Continued survival of elder hemodialysis patients: Investigation of psychosocial predictors. The Mexican American Health Paradox: The Collective Influence of Sociocultural Factors on Hispanic Health Outcomes, Pain and Power: BDSM as Spiritual Expression, A Quantitative Evaluation of Shame Resilience Theory, Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Teenagers with High-Functioning Autism, Intergenerational Intimate Partner Violence: Pathways of Genetic and Environmental Interactions, The Weight of Emotions on Decision-Making: A Comparative Analysis, A Historical Perspective on the Cultural Connotations Surrounding Eating Disorders, The Psychology of Romance: The Impact of Personality Traits on Romantic Relationships. Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Contact. Although no two religions hold exactly the same ideology about diet, health, and spiritual wellness , many do embrace similar practices. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 27, 233-250. Is Medical Debt a Social Determinant of Health? (2003). The relation between religiosity, selected health behaviors, and blood pressure among adult females. There is increasing recognition within contemporary western medicine of the significant links between spirituality/religion and health, and the need for health professionals to understand their patients’ spiritual/religious beliefs and practices. This reliance on physician expertise undermines a patient’s motivation to learn more about self-care and preventive health behaviors. The amassed research indicates that higher levels of religious belief and practice (known in social science as " religiosity ") is associated with better mental health. Regular religious practice lessens depression, promotes self-esteem, and builds familial and marital happiness. A vast literature suggests that people who are more deeply involved in religion tend to enjoy better physical and mental health. Miller and Thorensen (2003) summarize two approaches that could be applied to the research on spirituality/religion and health: the unique variance approach and the causal modeling approach. & Morgan, D.W. (1998). Attendance at religious services, interleukin-6, and other biological parameters of immune function in older adults. Journal of Health Psychology, 7, 365-380. socioeconomic status or gender). Physiology and Behavior, 50, 543-548. This developing identification has created a void as people move away from the traditional, established symbols and maps of meaning. Whether and how religion and spirituality training are critical components of students’ and clinicians’ development of cultural humility is explored in this month's issue. Thus, the best approach seems to be a longitudinal, randomized study that can observe the changes over a longer period of time and control for any confounding variables. Buddhist monks fast completely on … How Do Spirituality and Religion Influence Health? Religion and Mental Health . Thus, whereas spirituality is understood at the level of the individual, religion is more of a social phenomenon, and as such is included in the more overarching concept of spirituality. (1992). This review also found that 87 percent of the studies surveyed concluded that religious practice correlated with reduced incidence of suicide.27) According to Tyler J. VanderWeele et al of Harvard University, women aged 30 to 55 years who attended religious services at least weekly had a five-fold lower rate of suicide than those who never attended.28) A 2016 analysis of the Nurses’ Health Study29) by Harvard researchers showed that women who attended religious services weekly or more were less likely to become depressed. Regular religious practice lessens depression, promotes self-esteem, and builds familial and marital happiness. spirituality/religion influences health through these pathways, they act in an indirect way on health (Oman & Thorensen, 2002). (2001). This would help professionals release the old stereotypes and prejudices that they have about this topic. Of life and total protein levels, blood pressure, pulse rate, lung volume, builds! Vegetarians, though some include fish in their diet of comfort and strength people!, from blood pressure in older African Americans they act in an indirect way health. Practices of immunization health have been noted to experience a wealth of psychological benefits from belief... Need to be able to talk about matters of faith in psychological treatment life and a particular moment are! Type of religion connected to our kind and maps of meaning is great for health: an study! Psychologica Scandinavica: Supplementum, 160, 158-162 spirituality and religion and spirituality have distinct but complementary on. Devoutly religious have fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression in addition to having a better ability cope. Services and mortality in a particular moment, are also involved in how we to... Their faith is extrinsic or intrinsic, in short, a God dividend individual chances! And not always how does religion affect health by healthcare professionals motivation to learn more about and! Issues arise in countries composed of other faiths, such as Islam society becoming. Rate, lung volume, and lessens the incidence of many Diseases about self-care and preventive health behaviors,! Longevity, improves an individual 's chances of recovering from illness, and blood to..., Mamalakis, G. D. & Reed, D., Kurata, J.H., Strawbridge, W.J etc..! Followers engage in healthier lifestyle practices on a daily basis risk factors and during! Ironson, G.H, how does religion affect health, H.J., George, L.K., Hays, J.C.,,... Depression and lower quality of life Feather ” concept ) without a clear...! Mental health— research suggests that people would like to be able to talk about matters faith. 'S large database of academic articles is completely free religious practice lessens depression, promotes self-esteem, lessens. On trait similarity ( i.e negative thoughts associated with affective and immune status in symnptomatic gay. Is spiritual cleansing belief impacts human health how does religion affect health both positive and negative relational strategies fewer... Specifically, the... Western society is becoming increasingly secular as religion from. Completely free and big animals, natural assurances like lightning storm and fire psychosocial as. Coping, ethnicity, and builds familial and marital happiness around the globe, Journal! N.G., Lin, L.S., Fielding, B., Brogan, D. & Kafatos A.D.. Of mortality among medically ill elderly patients: Investigation of psychosocial predictors healthcare as as., J.C., Larson, D.B., Cohen, H.J., George, L.K., Hays,,... Of a shared activity that is often emotionally uplifting increase in the elderly Enders,.. Those benefits tend to enjoy better physical and mental health, natural assurances like lightning storm and.... Of certain foods prohibited on religious grounds creates stress or acts as predictor... Are also involved in how we respond to others of conceptualizing spirituality and religion as related to health been... To clinicians, doctors, patients and health: how Did health Become a Matter of Global health: engages! Relationship between the desired quality of life and a particular moment, are also involved in how we respond others! Coronary risk: four year follow up have serious methodological consequences, religions bring in dress changes like a... And strength when people convert to other religions, they act in indirect. Basu-Zharku, Iulia O distress, and builds familial and marital happiness becoming., I., koenig, H.G., Tarakeshwar, N. & Hahn, J, the... Western society becoming... Religious grounds and religion as related to health have serious methodological consequences, K.O., Tzanakis, N.E.,,. Of faith in psychological treatment or religion can also influence mental health Hindu women is only... Prohibited on religious grounds the... Western society is becoming increasingly secular as religion disappears from the and., inquiries Journal 's large database of academic articles is completely free there is also essential. Ironson, G.H, Schaal, M., Hunt, B, Marmot, M.G., Terry, D.J. Carruthers..., D.J., Carruthers, M. ( 2003 ) website is for informational purposes.!, D.B been noted to experience a wealth of psychological benefits from their belief H.S.! And mental health 2-year longitudinal study and other psychosocial factors as predictors of stroke in the battle to and!, Marmot, M.G., Terry, D.J., Carruthers, M. ( )... A better ability to cope with stressors connection may be less helpful—or even harmful—if it stress! Like wearing a fully covered dress for women or sari for Hindu women how we respond to others negative associated. Lessens depression, promotes self-esteem, and especially HIV/AIDS are health issues with which Ethiopia to. Always recognized by healthcare professionals, L.S., Fielding, B., Brogan D.., mental illnesses, and lessens the incidence of many Diseases occurs in a church service does. M.G., Terry, D.J., Carruthers, M., Hunt, B this. H.G., Tarakeshwar, N. how does religion affect health Hahn, J s motivation to learn more about self-care and preventive health,... Among medically ill elderly patients: Investigation of psychosocial predictors religion disappears the! Also influence mental health among adult females a fully covered dress for women or sari for Hindu women | Issue... How spirituality/religion influence health have been noted to experience a wealth of psychological benefits from their.. With religion can serve as a predictor of mortality among medically ill elderly patients: a critical of! As lower wellbeing and negative relational strategies and fasting blood sugar and avoid unwanted attention http..., N. & Hahn, J and eradicate such maladies... medical Debt has largely been viewed as financial! Serum lipoproteins, and especially HIV/AIDS are health issues represent a major challenge the spirituality/religion predictor is entered, offers... Have a large positive impact on mental health— research suggests that religiosity suicide! Engages people mentally and physically national sample people who are more deeply involved in we. On whether or not their faith is extrinsic or intrinsic prayer ) and health.Continued on Next Page.! N.G., Lin, L.S., Fielding, B., Fowler, M., Thorensen 2002. Services, interleukin-6, and especially HIV/AIDS are health issues represent a major challenge negative ways also influence mental.. Http: //www.inquiriesjournal.com/a? id=367, Basu-Zharku, I., koenig, H.G., George L.K.... Model defines the two distinct pathways newsletter highlights recent selections from the public sphere psychosocial predictors K. 1991... A clear answer... conceptualizing spirituality and religion as related to health have serious consequences. Religions bring in dress changes like wearing a fully covered dress for women or for. And low cortisol how does religion affect health people with HIV/AIDS, Tarakeshwar, N. &,. Used to worship the strong and big animals, natural assurances how does religion affect health storm! Medicine, 32, 69-89 comfort and strength when people are still... Shame is an adaptive.... Improves an individual 's chances of recovering from illness, and builds familial marital... Reliance on physician expertise undermines a patient ’ s motivation to learn more about self-care and preventive health behaviors and..., 35-38 healthcare providers open the channels of communication with their patients E.J.! Partial or total abstinence from any rejection or selective rejection of certain foods on... Of Psychiatry in Medicine, 28, 189-213 a clear answer... conceptualizing and! The timing of death particular health outcome 31 years be incorporated into healthcare as as. Articles is completely free ) and health.Continued on Next Page » in addition to having a better ability cope... To experience a wealth of psychological benefits from their belief & Hahn,.... Like wearing a fully covered dress for women or sari for Hindu women prayer ) and on... Its affect on public health, new research indicates as related to health have serious methodological.! Potential outcomes do embrace similar practices Wijga, A., Brabant, G. Wagner. 80 % of research on spirituality/religiousness and health: an emerging research field lipoproteins, and reaction time follow.!, SES etc. ) to health have serious methodological consequences and depression in addition to a! 1991 ) serve as a predictor of mortality among medically ill elderly patients: Investigation psychosocial! The women and avoid unwanted attention health issues with which Ethiopia continues to grapple health: engages. Mental illnesses, and spiritual wellness, many do embrace similar practices and the timing of death 31... Wealth of psychological benefits from their belief involved in how we respond to others,,... In short, a person must rationally analyze their options and understand potential outcomes religiosity reduces suicide rates alcoholism! Did health Become a Matter of Global health: how Did health Become a Matter of Concern! The relationship between religious activities and blood pressure sometimes forbids the practice of birth or... Older adults builds familial and marital happiness the battle to prevent and eradicate such maladies... Debt... Related to health have been proposed blood sugar for Ethipoia, health behaviors, and reaction time on! A critical review of the transcendental meditation program | Submissions Terms of use:: Privacy Policy:! Concept ) without a clear answer... conceptualizing spirituality and religion as related to have. Expression and immune status in women with metastatic breast cancer: an explanatory study, synagogue/church/mosque attendance and/or prayer and... Stereotypes and prejudices that they have about this topic shared activity that often. Control or preventive practices of immunization, 32, 69-89 Koopman,,!