The relation of churchgoing and other background factors to the socioeconomic performance of black male youths from inner-city tracts. Barber BK. Those who are depressed, without hope, and with low self-esteem are at greater risk for committing suicide. Predictors of volunteer status in a retirement community. Effectiveness of yoga therapy in the treatment of migraine without aura: a randomized controlled trial. Social integration is associated with fibrinogen concentration in elderly men. 2008. Thus, there are many possible mechanisms by which R/S may enhance mental and social health. C-reactive protein, diabetes, and attendance at religious services. Heydecke G, Tedesco LA, Kowalski C, Inglehart MR. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted For details on these and many other studies in this area, and for suggestions on future research that is needed, I again refer the reader to the Handbook of Religion and Health [600]. Although one might expect R/S to correlate positively with an external locus of control (i.e., the Transcendent controlling events), and some studies confirm this, the majority of research finds a positive correlation with an internal not an external sense of control. En las Manos de Dios [in Gods Hands]: religious and other forms of coping among Latinos with arthritis. Roles of religious involvement and social support in the risk of colon cancer among blacks and whites. Burazeri G, Goda A, Kark JD. Stress management: a randomized study of cognitive behavioural therapy and yoga. I have briefly reviewed reasons for inquiring about and addressing spiritual needs in clinical practice, described how to do so, and indicated boundaries across which health professionals should not cross. Does Religious Belief Affect Attitudes Towards Mental Illness? Originally designed to house distracted people, this was Europe's (and perhaps the world's) first mental hospital. As a result of this complexity, it is likely that only the strongest and most consistent relationships can be identified between the two [6]. Religious doctrines influence decisions about health and health behaviors. Wilcox WB, Wolfinger NH. Kennedy BM, Paeratakul S, Champagne CM, et al. Jarvis and Northcott (1987) have pointed out that religious involvement can produce adverse Examining the Complex Relationship Between Religion and Mental Health Ehman JW, Ott BB, Short TH, Ciampa RC, Hansen-Flaschen J. Coin A, Perissinotto E, Najjar M, et al. There are many practical reasons why addressing spiritual issues in clinical practice is important. Of the 43 studies examining psychosis, 14 (33%) reported inverse relationships between R/S and psychotic symptoms (one at a trend level), 10 (23%) found a positive relationship between R/S and psychotic symptoms (one at a trend level), eight reported mixed results (significant negative and positive associations, depending on the R/S characteristic measured), and one study reported complex results. If health professionals do not take a spiritual history so that patients/families feel comfortable discussing such issues openly, then situations may go on indefinitely and consume huge amounts of medical resources. Of 21 studies that have examined these relationships, 13 (61%) found that R/S was related to a greater sense of personal control in challenging life circumstances. Freeman RB. Cancer in Utah Mormon men by lay priesthood level. Religion and Health: Public Health Research and Practice Religious psychotherapy in anxiety disorder patients. Krause N. Gratitude toward God, stress, and health in late life. Baron-Epel O, Haviv A, Garty N, Tamir D, Green MS. Who are the sedentary people in Israel? This should be done for all new patients on their first evaluation, especially if they have serious or chronic illnesses, and when a patient is admitted to a hospital, nursing home, home health agency, or other health care setting. [24]). Simply recording the patient's religious denomination and whether they want to see a chaplain, the procedure in most hospitals today, is NOT taking a spiritual history. Daily spiritual experiences, systolic blood pressure, and hypertension among midlife women in swan. Religiosity is associated with affective and immune status in symptomatic HIV-infected gay men. Social ties and mortality in Evans county, Georgia. Considering the 63 methodologically most rigorous studies (quality ratings of 8 or higher), 47 (75%) found R/S predicting greater longevity (two at trend level) [548566], whereas three (5%) reported shorter longevity [567569]. For models based on Eastern religious traditions and the Secular Humanist tradition, see elsewhere. This was done by dichotomizing scores into two categories (06 versus 710) and comparing the categories between the two examiners. Are risk and protective factors for substance use consistent across historical time? Van Ness PH, Kasl SV. as to whether religion has a positive, negative, or any effect on health and wellbeing in adulthood has continued in modern research literature. Ten of the 12 studies had quality ratings of 7 or higher; of those, seven (70%) reported significant inverse associations with infection/viral load [440, 441, 449454]. The practice of these human virtues may also directly increase positive emotions and neutralize negative ones. Brown E, Orbuch TL, Bauermeister JA. Religion and subjective health among black and white elders. There is every reason to think it does. Le TN, Tov W, Taylor J. Religiousness and depressive symptoms in five ethnic adolescent groups. Physiological changes that occur with stress and depression (elevated blood cortisol, in particular) are known to adversely affect the parts of the brain responsible for memory [419421]. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Preacher KJ, MacCallum RC, Atkinson C, Malarkey WB, Glaser R. Chronic stress and age-related increases in the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. Schoenbach VJ, Kaplan BH, Fredman L, Kleinbaum DG. Krause N. Religious doubt and psychological well-being: a longitudinal investigation. Murray-Swank A, Goldberg R, Dickerson F, Medoff D, Wohlheiter K, Dixon L. Correlates of religious service attendance and contact with religious leaders among persons with co-occurring serious mental illness and type 2 diabetes. The experience of negative emotions may be like pouring hydrochloric acid on the brain's memory cells [422]. Spirituality is intimately connected to the supernatural, the mystical, and to organized religion, although also extends beyond organized religion (and begins before it). Living a healthier lifestyle will result in better physical health and greater longevity. Given the importance of depression, its wide prevalence in the population, and the dysfunction that it causes (both mental and physical), I describe the research findings in a bit more detail. Health practices and cancer mortality among active California Mormons. More recent research supports a positive link between R/S and better cognitive function in both dementia and in old age [434, 435]. Enstrom JE. A healthy diet here involves increased intake of fiber, green vegetables, fruit, and fish; low intake of snacks, processed foods, and fat; regular vitamin intake; frequent eating of breakfast; overall better nutrition (following recommended nutritional guidelines). Complete dentures and oral health-related quality of lifedo coping styles matter? If those who are more R/S engage in less risky sexual behavior, this means they should have fewer venereal diseases, that is, less syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, chancroid, chlamydia, viral hepatitis, and human papillomavirus and human immunodeficiency virus, many of which have serious physical health consequences. Women with multiple sexual partners: United States, 1988. Kark JD, Shemi G, Friedlander Y, Martin O, Manor O, Blondheim SH. Wolinsky FD, Stump TE. Religious involvement and U.S. adult mortality. A significant factor in the spread of AIDS in Africa is the lack of power exercised by women; both religion . Harold G. Koenig, Religion and Mental Health: Research and . Cucino C, Sonnenberg A. Csernansky JG, Dong H, Fagan AM, et al. Lawrence RE, Rasinski KA, Yoon JD, Curlin FA. Gillum RF, King DE, Obisesan TO, Koenig HG. Thus, it stands to reason that R/S might influence physical health through psychological pathways. Wiech K, Kalisch R, Weiskopf N, Pleger B, Stephan KE, Dolan RJ. We located 185 studies, of which 84% reported inverse relationship with R/S and only two studies (1%) found positive relationships. Fifth, as noted earlier, R/S is associated with both mental and physical health and likely affects medical outcomes. Call VRA, Heaton TB. Schuster MA, Stein BD, Jaycox LH, et al. Towards a unified conceptual model. Frequency of attendance at religious services and mortality in a U.S. national cohort. I then explain how and why R/S might influence mental health. Conrad CD. A randomized controlled trial of stress reduction for hypertension in older African Americans. Ecklund EH, Park JZ. Church attendance mediates the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning among older Mexican Americans. Lose weight and win: a church-based weight loss program for blood pressure control among black women. Third, most religions emphasize love of others, compassion, and altruistic acts as well as encourage meeting together during religious social events. Is terror gender-blind? Caputo RK. Parkerson GR, Jr, Gutman RA. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Neeleman J, Wessely S, Lewis G. Suicide acceptability in African- and white Americans: the role of religion. These possible benefits to mental health and well-being have physiological consequences that impact physical health, affect the risk of disease, and influence response to treatment. Our review uncovered 19 studies that examined associations between R/S and CHD. Subjective religiosity and depression in the transition to adulthood. Of the latter, however, only one was a prospective study, one was a randomized clinical trial, and 31 (94%) were cross-sectional studies (where it was not clear whether R/S caused anxiety or whether anxiety increased R/S as a coping response to the anxiety). Of the 83 methodologically most rigorous studies, 75 (90%) reported inverse relationships with R/S involvement [213, 285294]. Intact immune function is critical for health maintenance and disease prevention and is assessed by indicators of cellular immunity, humoral immunity, and levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Jackson KM, Sher KJ, Schulenberg JE. The religious needs and resources of psychiatric inpatients. Concerns about measuring spirituality in research. Thus, our definition of spirituality is very similar to religion and there is clearly overlap. [22]. The first hospitals in the West for the care of the sick in the general population were built by religious organizations and staffed by religious orders. First, we systematically searched online databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, etc.) Usefulness of the transcendental meditation program in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease. Miller WR, Forcehimes A, OLeary MJ, LaNoue MD. This conflict has manifested in the clinical work of many mental health professionals, who have generally ignored the religious resources of patients or viewed them as pathological. Newport F. Religion and party ID strongly linked among whites, not blacks. A randomized controlled trial of stress reduction in African Americans treated for hypertension for over one year. Benda BB, Toombs NJ, Peacock M. Discriminators of types of recidivism among boot camp graduates in a five-year follow-up study. In the present paper, I have chosen to cite original reports as examples of the most rigorous studies in each area based on ratings in the Handbooks (i.e., 7 or higher on 010 scale). Almost all of these studies were of high quality, and of the 13 studies with ratings of seven or higher, 10 (77%) found that R/S was related to greater social capital [277280]. Among these 299 studies were 239 cross-sectional studies, 19 prospective cohort studies, 9 single-group experimental studies, and 32 randomized clinical trials. Unmet spiritual needs, especially if they involve R/S struggles, can adversely affect health and may increase mortality independent of mental, physical, or social health [581]. Religious activity and depression among community-dwelling elderly persons with cancer: The moderating effect of race. The graphs plot the number of studies published in peer-reviewed journals during every noncumulative 3-year period from 1971 to 2012. Wenneberg SR, Schneider RH, Walton KG, et al. September 6, 2022 by Sandra Hearth Along with the presumed benefits of religious involvement for health, religion may also be associated with negative outcomes, such as poorer mental and physical health status, negative coping behaviors, and inappropriate use of health services (39, 106). There is some evidence that personality or temperament (which has genetic roots) influences whether or not a person becomes R/S. Religiosity and its relation to blood pressure among selected Kuwaitis. Liu XH. Not surprisingly, the physical health consequences of not smoking are enormous. Ironson G, Stuezle R, Fletcher MA, Ironson D. View of God is associated with disease progression in HIV. Lytle LA, Varnell S, Murray DM, et al. MacArthur AC, Le ND, Abanto ZU, Gallagher RP. However, since only about 10% of physicians in the US often or always do so [595],the task often falls to the nurse or to the social worker. Finally, I discuss what health professionals should do in light of these research findings and make recommendations in this regard. When we examined correlations between HGK and Futterman's ratings, we found them moderately correlated (Pearson r = 0.57). In any case, the assumption that religion is positively linked to happiness is strongly supported ( Stark & Maier, 2008 ). Topacoglu H, Karcioglu O, Yuruktumen A, et al. Johnson BR. Seidman SN, Mosher WD, Aral SO. For example, the second edition of Koenig's Handbook of Religion and Health published in 2012 year is not just an updated version of the first edition published in 2001 1, 2, 3. A large volume of research shows that people who are more R/S have better mental health and adapt more quickly to health problems compared to those who are less R/S. Herman-Stahl MA, Krebs CP, Kroutil LA, Heller DC. Buck AC, Williams DR, Musick MA, Sternthal MJ. Again, however, 30% of that sample was African American an ethnic group, known to be both highly religious and at high risk for stroke. Religion and spirituality: linkages to physical health. Frequent attendance at religious services and mortality over 28 years. Lelkes O. Tasting freedom: happiness, religion and economic transition. Glucocorticoids and hippocampal atrophy in neuropsychiatric disorders. If R/S influences one domain of mental health, it is in the area of substance abuse. McCullough ME, Laurenceau JP. Dupre ME, Franzese AT, Parrado EA. Beyers JM, Toumbourou JW, Catalano RF, Arthur MW, Hawkins JD. Bear in mind that many, many more qualitative studies have been published on the topic that were not included in this review. Strawbridge WJ, Shema SJ, Cohen RD, Kaplan GA. Does religious attendance prolong survival? Also, the average correlation reported in the 2003 review was 50% stronger in stressed versus nonstressed populations [151]. Current status of teaching on spirituality in UK medical schools. Comstock GW. Psychosocial factors in heart surgery: presurgical vulnerability and postsurgical recovery. Lopes Cardozo B, Bilukha OO, Gotway Crawford CA, et al. Smith BW. Studies finding negative relationships between R/S and cognitive function may be due to the fact that R/S persons have longer lifespans (see below), increasing the likelihood that they will live to older ages when cognition tends to decline. Religion among disabled and nondisabled persons II: attendance at religious services as a predictor of the course of disability. Morrow-Howell N, Hinterlong J, Rozario PA, Tang F. Effects of volunteering on the well-being of older adults. Relation of various epidemiologic factors to cervical cancer as determined by a screening program. The effect of motivational arousal through films on salivary immunoglobulin A. McCain NL, Gray DP, Elswick RK, et al. These activities should always be patient centered, not centered on the health professional. Finding meaning in a childs violent death: a five-year prospective analysis of parents personal narratives and empirical data. Body, perspectives on the: an entry from macmillan reference USAs encyclopedia of Buddhism. Trinitapoli J, Regnerus MD. Payman V, George K, Ryburn B. Religiosity of depressed elderly inpatients. All health professionals should be familiar with the research base described in this paper, know the reasons for integrating spirituality into patient care, and be able to do so in a sensible and sensitive way. Note that about 50% of these articles are reports of original research with quantitative data, whereas the other 50% are qualitative reports, opinion pieces, reviews, or commentaries. Schieman S, Van Gundy K, Taylor J. Gardner JW, Lyon JL. Social support, in turn, has long been known to protect against disease and increase longevity [354356]. Lower weight among the more R/S appears only in a few religious groups (Amish [324], Jews [325], and Buddhists [326]), in those with certain demographic characteristics (white, older, and high education) [327], and in response to a specific R/S intervention [328] or practice [314, 329]. The information presented here is based on a systematic review of peer-reviewed original data-based reports published though mid-2010 and summarized in two editions of the Handbook of Religion and Health [23, 24]. Box 3400, Durham, NC 27705, USA, 2Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21413, Saudi Arabia. Miller L, Bansai R, Wickramaratne P, Hao X, Tenke CE, Weissman MM. Steffen PR, Masters KS. Three of the five studies reporting increased BP with increased R/S included in their samples a large proportion of ethnic minorities (samples from large urban settings such as Detroit and Chicago, made up of 36% to 100% African Americans). First, many patients are R/S and have spiritual needs related to medical or psychiatric illness. McCullough ME, Hoyt WT, Larson DB, Koenig HG, Thoresen C. Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review. Here are the definitions we provided in the Handbook. Fitchett G, Murphy PE, Kim J, Gibbons JL, Cameron JR, Davis JA. Hill TD, Burdette AM, Regnerus M, Angel RJ. 2009. There are clinical implications from the research reviewed above that could influence the way health professionals treat patients in the hospital and clinic. Religion: a sociocultural predictor of health behaviors in Mexico. Commentary on Koenig (2008): Concerns about measuring Spirituality in research. This is particularly true for ratings of study methodology that are used to summarize the findings below. Science Says: Religion Is Good For Your Health - Forbes Date July 12, 2022. Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among United States adults 19992004. Stack S, Kposowa A. Religious involvement and risk of major depression in a prospective nationwide study of African American adults. Racial differences in adolescent drug use: The impact of religion. Estimated deaths attributable to social factors in the united states. Religious struggle as a predictor of mortality among medically ill elderly patients: a 2-Year longitudinal study. Therefore, a spiritual care discharge plan will need to be developed by the hospital social worker in consultation with the chaplain, which may involve (with the patient's written consent) contact with the patient's faith community to ensure that spiritual needs are addressed when the patient returns home. . Cooper-Effa M, Blount W, Kaslow N, Rothenberg R, Eckman J. Shaw B, Han JY, Kim E, et al. Membership in different types of voluntary associations and psychological well being. Verghese A, John JK, Rajkumar S, Richard J, Sethi BB, Trivedi JK. First and foremost, health professionals should take a brief spiritual history. Studies have shown that R/S beliefs influence medical decisions among those with serious medical illness [584, 585] and especially among those with advanced cancer [586] or HIV/AIDs [587]. A survival analysis of dimensions of religion among homeless substance abusers: going into the remotest regions. These graphs suggest that the volume of research on R/S and health has literally exploded since the mid-1990s. Prevalence of partner violence in same-sex romantic and sexual relationships in a national sample of adolescents. Seventh, research shows that failure to address patients' spiritual needs increases health care costs, especially toward the end of life [592]. (2). Note that the two studies finding inverse relationships between R/S and psychosis were both prospective studies [191193], finding that R/S predicted better outcomes in subjects with psychotic disorders or symptoms. Religious education can contribute to adolescent mental health in Ability to function physically, that is, performing basic and instrumental activities of daily living such as toileting, bathing, shopping, and using a telephone, is a necessary factor for independent living. With regard to alcohol use, abuse, and dependence, at least 278 studies have now examined relationships with R/S. Of the 112 best studies, 96 (86%) reported inverse relationships [223238] and only one study found a positive relationship [239]. Sloane DM, Potvin RH. Of the 39 highest quality studies, 24 (62%) report lower BP (including one at a trend level) among those who are more R/S [382394] or in response to an R/S intervention [328, 395404] (including a study whose results were reported twice, once for the overall sample and once for the sample stratified by race).