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Coelho-Júnior HJ, Calvani R, Panza F, Allegri RF, Picca A, Marzetti E, Alves VP. Religiosity/Spirituality and Mental Health in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:877213. [PMID: 35646998 PMCID: PMC9133607 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.877213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The present study investigated the association between religious and spiritual (RS) practices with the prevalence, severity, and incidence of mental health problems in older adults. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that investigated older adults aged 60+ years and assessed RS using valid scales and questions from valid scales, and mental health according to validated multidimensional or specific instruments. Studies were retrieved from MEDLINE, LILACS, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and AgeLine databases until July 31, 2021. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). A pooled effect size was calculated based on the log odds ratio (OR) and Z-scores. This study is registered on PROSPERO. Results One hundred and two studies that investigated 79.918 community-dwellers, hospitalized, and institutionalized older adults were included. Results indicated that high RS was negatively associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms, while a positive association was observed with life satisfaction, meaning in life, social relations, and psychological well-being. Specifically, people with high spirituality, intrinsic religiosity, and religious affiliation had a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. In relation to longitudinal analysis, most studies supported that high RS levels were associated with a lower incidence of depressive symptoms and fear of death, as well as better mental health status. Conclusion Findings of the present study suggest that RS are significantly associated with mental health in older adults. People with high RS levels had a lower prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as reported greater life satisfaction and psychological well-being, better social relations, and more definite meaning in life. Data provided by an increasing number of longitudinal studies have supported most of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélio José Coelho-Júnior
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Institute of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Rome, Italy
- Department of Gerontology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Hélio José Coelho-Júnior
| | - Riccardo Calvani
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Panza
- National Institute of Gastroenterology “Saverio de Bellis”, Research Hospital, Bari, Italy
| | - Riccardo F. Allegri
- Department of Cognitive Neurology, Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas Fleni, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Neurosciences, Universidad de la Costa (CUC), Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Anna Picca
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Marzetti
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Institute of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Vicente Paulo Alves
- Department of Gerontology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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Papathanasiou IV, Papathanasiou C, Malli F, Tsaras K, Papagiannis D, Kontopoulou L, Kourkouta L, Tsalogliodou A, Tzavella F, Fradelos EC. The Effect of Spirituality on Mental Health Among Hypertensive Elderly People: A Cross-sectional Community-based Study. Mater Sociomed 2021; 32:218-223. [PMID: 33424452 PMCID: PMC7780778 DOI: 10.5455/msm.2020.32.218-223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Elderly suffering from hypertension may also experience other psychological disorders in their daily life, such as depression and anxiety. Moreover, they use spiritual practices to relieve symptoms or comorbidities of hypertension. All these practices produce a calming effect on them. Aim: This study aims at investigating the relation between spirituality and mental health among older adults with hypertension and their sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Greece. A questionnaire consisting of the sociodemographic characteristics, the FACIT-Sp-12 scale and the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was completed by a total of 134 hypertensive elderly (≥65 years of age) persons. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used. Results: The sample consisted of 42,5% males and 57,5% females, aged 65 to 95 years, with a mean age of 78,38 years (SD= 6,68). A statistically significant correlation was found between FACIT-Sp-12 total score and the “physical discomfort (r=-0,562 p<0.001), “anxiety” (r=-0,735 p<0.001), “social disfunctioning” (r=-0,650 p<0.001), “depression” (r=-0,735 p<0.001) and the total score of GHQ-28 (r=-0,735 p<0.001). Specifically, the higher the total score of spirituality among older hypertensive adults the lower the rates of psychosomatic disorders and the total burden of mental health (and vice versa). Conclusion: Results showed that younger elderly, living in urban areas and not experiencing any other chronic health conditions, have higher levels of spirituality compared to older. Also, a negative correlation was found between spirituality and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna V Papathanasiou
- Nursing Department, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.,Community Nursing Lab, Nursing Department, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | | | - Foteini Malli
- Nursing Department, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | | | - Dimitrios Papagiannis
- Nursing Department, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.,Community Nursing Lab, Nursing Department, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Lamprini Kontopoulou
- Nursing Department, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.,Community Nursing Lab, Nursing Department, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Lambrini Kourkouta
- Nursing Department, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Areti Tsalogliodou
- Nursing Department, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Evangelos C Fradelos
- Nursing Department, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.,Community Nursing Lab, Nursing Department, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
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Kopeyko GI, Borisova OA, Gedevani EV, Kaleda VG. [The influence of religiosity on depressive disorders and suicidal behavior]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2020; 120:103-110. [PMID: 32105277 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro2020120011103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This review of the literature is focused on the positive influence of religiosity on recovery after depression and on the protective role of religiosity against suicidal activity. Despite the inconsistent results on the role of religiosity in treatment of mental diseases, to date there is a sufficiently large body of literature showing the beneficial effect of religiosity and describing specific therapeutic approaches and suicide prevention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- G I Kopeyko
- Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - V G Kaleda
- Mental Health Research Center, Moscow, Russia
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Waters EK, Doyle Z, Finlay E. Spirituality/Religiosity (SpR), Leisure-Time Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behaviour in Students at a Catholic University. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2018; 57:869-882. [PMID: 28660471 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-017-0440-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Some studies have found an association between spirituality and/or religiosity (SpR) and cardiovascular health, for reasons which remain unclear. This study explores whether SpR is linked to physical activity whilst young, which in turn is linked to long-term cardiovascular health. Students at a Catholic University in Australia completed a survey combining the SpREUK-P SF 17 SpR questionnaire with elements of the long-form 7-day recall International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Respondents who scored highly in the unconventional spiritual practices components of SpREUK-P engaged in moderate intensity physical activity more frequently. This finding may have implications for health promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward K Waters
- School of Medicine, Sydney, The University of Notre Dame Australia, 160 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia.
| | - Zelda Doyle
- School of Medicine, Sydney, The University of Notre Dame Australia, 160 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia
- Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine, Sydney, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Bowenfels, NSW, Australia
| | - Ellen Finlay
- School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Broadway, NSW, Australia
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Nyman SR, Szymczynska P. Meaningful activities for improving the wellbeing of people with dementia: beyond mere pleasure to meeting fundamental psychological needs. Perspect Public Health 2017; 136:99-107. [PMID: 26933079 DOI: 10.1177/1757913915626193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Dementia is being increasingly recognised as a major public health issue for our ageing populations. A critical aspect of supporting people with dementia is facilitating their participation in meaningful activities. However, research to date has not drawn on theories of ageing from developmental psychology that would help undergird the importance of such meaningful activity. For the first time, we connect existing activity provision for people with dementia with developmental psychology theories of ageing. METHOD We reviewed the literature in two stages: first, we narratively searched the literature to demonstrate the relevance of psychological theories of ageing for provision of meaningful activities for people with dementia, and in particular focused on stage-based theories of adult development (Carl Jung and Erik Erikson), gerotranscendence (Tornstam), selective optimisation with compensation (Baltes and Baltes), and optimisation in primary and secondary control (Heckhausen and Schulz). Second, we systematically searched PubMed and PsycINFO for studies with people with dementia that made use of the aforementioned theories. RESULTS The narrative review highlights that activity provision for people with dementia goes beyond mere pleasure to meeting fundamental psychological needs. More specifically, that life review therapy and life story work address the need for life review; spiritual/religious activities address the need for death preparation; intergenerational activities address the need for intergenerational relationships; re-acquaintance with previously conducted leisure activities addresses the need for a sense of control and to achieve life goals; and pursuit of new leisure activities addresses the need to be creative. The systematic searches identified two studies that demonstrated the utility of applying Erikson's theory of psychosocial development to dementia care. CONCLUSION We argue for the importance of activity provision for people with dementia to help promote wellbeing among an increasing proportion of older people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R Nyman
- Bournemouth University Dementia Institute and Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science & Technology, Bournemouth University, UK
| | - Paulina Szymczynska
- Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Service Development, Newham Centre for Mental Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to explain the reasons for taking a religious and spiritual history, which is often neglected by psychiatrists, and to introduce some religious and spiritual assessment tools to assist those psychiatrists who feel inexperienced in this area. CONCLUSION Religious and spiritual assessment enhances quality of patient care. Training programs for psychiatry registrars need to include modules on religious and spiritual assessment of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Payman
- Psychogeriatrician, Koropiko Mental Health Services for Older People, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
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Bjørkløf GH, Engedal K, Selbæk G, Maia DB, Coutinho ESF, Helvik AS. Locus of control and coping strategies in older persons with and without depression. Aging Ment Health 2016; 20:831-9. [PMID: 25955293 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1040722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare locus of control and coping strategies in older persons with and without depression. METHOD This cross-sectional study included 144 depressed in-patients from seven psychogeriatric hospital units, and 106 community-dwelling older persons without depression. All participants were 60 years and older. Locus of control was assessed by a 17-items self-report questionnaire with six response categories. Coping strategies were assessed by a 26-items self-report questionnaire with five response categories. For analytical purposes, age (<75 years vs. ≥75 years), level of education (<10 years vs. ≥10 years) and general medical health (poor vs. not poor) were categorized. RESULTS In linear regression analysis, controlling for demographics, health, and social variables, the depressed in-patients showed a higher external locus of control orientation and a less frequent use of problem-focused coping strategies compared with the non-depressed group. No differences in use of emotion-focused strategies were found between the two groups. CONCLUSION Compared with the non-depressed old persons, the depressed hospitalized older persons were characterized by perceptions of less personal control, and less use of problem-focused strategies, what also might have brought positive alterations into their situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guro Hanevold Bjørkløf
- a Ageing and Health, Norwegian Centre for Research, Education and Service Development , Vestfold Hospital Trust , Tønsberg , Norway.,b Department for Mental Health Research and Development, Division for Mental health and Addiction , Vestre Viken Hospital Trust , Lier , Norway.,c Faculty of Medicine , University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway
| | - Knut Engedal
- a Ageing and Health, Norwegian Centre for Research, Education and Service Development , Vestfold Hospital Trust , Tønsberg , Norway
| | - Geir Selbæk
- a Ageing and Health, Norwegian Centre for Research, Education and Service Development , Vestfold Hospital Trust , Tønsberg , Norway.,d Research Center of Old Age Psychiatry , Innlandet Hospital Trust , Ottestad , Norway.,e Akershus University Hospital , Lørenskog , Norway
| | - Deborah Bezerra Maia
- f National School of Public Health, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (ENSP-FIOCRUZ) , Rio , Brazil
| | | | - Anne-Sofie Helvik
- a Ageing and Health, Norwegian Centre for Research, Education and Service Development , Vestfold Hospital Trust , Tønsberg , Norway.,g Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine , Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) , Trondheim , Norway.,h St Olav's University Hospital , Trondheim , Norway
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Ronneberg CR, Miller EA, Dugan E, Porell F. The Protective Effects of Religiosity on Depression: A 2-Year Prospective Study. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2014; 56:421-31. [PMID: 25063937 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnu073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Approximately 20% of older adults are diagnosed with depression in the United States. Extant research suggests that engagement in religious activity, or religiosity, may serve as a protective factor against depression. This prospective study examines whether religiosity protects against depression and/or aids in recovery. DESIGN AND METHODS Study data are drawn from the 2006 and 2008 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. The sample consists of 1,992 depressed and 5,740 nondepressed older adults (mean age = 68.12 years), at baseline (2006), for an overall sample size of 7,732. Logistic regressions analyzed the relationship between organizational (service attendance), nonorganizational (private prayer), and intrinsic measures of religiosity and depression onset (in the baseline nondepressed group) and depression recovery (in the baseline depressed group) at follow-up (2008), controlling for other baseline factors. RESULTS Religiosity was found to both protect against and help individuals recover from depression. Individuals not depressed at baseline remained nondepressed 2 years later if they frequently attended religious services, whereas those depressed at baseline were less likely to be depressed at follow-up if they more frequently engaged in private prayer. IMPLICATIONS Findings suggest that both organizational and nonorganizational forms of religiosity affect depression outcomes in different circumstances (i.e., onset and recovery, respectively). Important strategies to prevent and relieve depression among older adults may include improving access and transportation to places of worship among those interested in attending services and facilitating discussions about religious activities and beliefs with clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corina R Ronneberg
- Department of Gerontology, John E. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston.
| | - Edward Alan Miller
- Department of Gerontology, John E. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston
| | - Elizabeth Dugan
- Department of Gerontology, John E. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston
| | - Frank Porell
- Department of Gerontology, John E. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston
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Rosmarin DH, Malloy MC, Forester BP. Spiritual struggle and affective symptoms among geriatric mood disordered patients. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2014; 29:653-60. [PMID: 24311360 PMCID: PMC4013257 DOI: 10.1002/gps.4052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We explored relationships between general religiousness, positive religious coping, negative religious coping (spiritual struggle), and affective symptoms among geriatric mood disordered outpatients, in the northeastern USA. METHODS We assessed for general religiousness (religious affiliation, belief in God, and private and public religious activity) and positive/negative religious coping, alongside interview and self-report measures of affective functioning in a diagnostically heterogeneous sample of n = 34 geriatric mood disordered outpatients (n = 16 bipolar and n = 18 major depressive) at a psychiatric hospital in eastern Massachusetts. RESULTS Except for a modest correlation between private prayer and lower Geriatric Depression Scale scores, general religious factors (belief in God, public religious activity, and religious affiliation) as well as positive religious coping were unrelated to affective symptoms after correcting for multiple comparisons and controlling for significant covariates. However, a large effect of spiritual struggle was observed on greater symptom levels (up to 19.4% shared variance). Further, mean levels of spiritual struggle and its observed effects on symptoms were equivalent irrespective of religious affiliation, belief, and private and public religious activity. CONCLUSIONS Previously observed effects of general religiousness on (less) depression among geriatric mood disordered patients may be less pronounced in less religious areas of the USA. However, spiritual struggle appears to be a common and important risk factor for depressive symptoms, regardless of patients' general level of religiousness. Further research on spiritual struggle is warranted among geriatric mood disordered patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H. Rosmarin
- Department of Psychiatry; McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Belmont MA USA
| | - Mary C. Malloy
- Department of Psychiatry; McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Belmont MA USA
| | - Brent P. Forester
- Department of Psychiatry; McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School; Belmont MA USA
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Bjørkløf GH, Engedal K, Selbæk G, Kouwenhoven SE, Helvik AS. Coping and depression in old age: a literature review. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2013; 35:121-54. [PMID: 23392253 DOI: 10.1159/000346633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS The interest in the relation between coping and depression in older persons is growing, but research on the concepts and instruments of coping in relation to depression among older persons is scarce and systematic reviews are lacking. With this background, we wanted to gain a systematic overview of this field by performing a systematic literature search. METHODS A computer-aided search in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, PubMed and www.salutogenesis.fi was conducted. We systematically searched for studies including coping and depression among persons 60 years of age and above. The included studies were evaluated according to predefined quality criteria. RESULTS Seventy-five studies, 38 clinical and 37 community settings, were included. Of these, 44 were evaluated to be of higher quality. Studies recruiting samples of older persons with a major depressive disorder, moderate or severe cognitive impairment or those who were dependent on care were scarce, thus the research is not representative of such samples. We found a huge variety of instruments assessing resources and strategies of coping (55 inventories). Although we found the relation between resources and strategies of coping and depression to be strong in the majority of studies, i.e. a higher sense of control and internal locus of control, more active strategies and positive religious coping were significantly associated with fewer symptoms of depression both in longitudinal and cross-sectional studies in clinical and community settings. CONCLUSION Resources and strategies of coping are significantly associated with depressive symptoms in late life, but more research to systematize the field of coping and to validate the instruments of resources and strategies of coping in older populations is required, especially among older persons suffering from major depression and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guro Hanevold Bjørkløf
- Department of Psychiatry, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Lier Norway. guhane @ vestreviken.no
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Koenig HG. Religion, spirituality, and health: the research and clinical implications. ISRN PSYCHIATRY 2012; 2012:278730. [PMID: 23762764 PMCID: PMC3671693 DOI: 10.5402/2012/278730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 632] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This paper provides a concise but comprehensive review of research on religion/spirituality (R/S) and both mental health and physical health. It is based on a systematic review of original data-based quantitative research published in peer-reviewed journals between 1872 and 2010, including a few seminal articles published since 2010. First, I provide a brief historical background to set the stage. Then I review research on R/S and mental health, examining relationships with both positive and negative mental health outcomes, where positive outcomes include well-being, happiness, hope, optimism, and gratefulness, and negative outcomes involve depression, suicide, anxiety, psychosis, substance abuse, delinquency/crime, marital instability, and personality traits (positive and negative). I then explain how and why R/S might influence mental health. Next, I review research on R/S and health behaviors such as physical activity, cigarette smoking, diet, and sexual practices, followed by a review of relationships between R/S and heart disease, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and dementia, immune functions, endocrine functions, cancer, overall mortality, physical disability, pain, and somatic symptoms. I then present a theoretical model explaining how R/S might influence physical health. Finally, I discuss what health professionals should do in light of these research findings and make recommendations in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold G. Koenig
- Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, P.O. Box 3400, Durham, NC 27705, USA
- Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21413, Saudi Arabia
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Moxey A, McEvoy M, Bowe S, Attia J. Spirituality, religion, social support and health among older Australian adults. Australas J Ageing 2010; 30:82-8. [PMID: 21672117 DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2010.00453.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
AIM To examine the impact of perceived importance of spirituality or religion (ISR) and religious service attendance (RSA) on health and well-being in older Australians. METHODS A cross-sectional survey of 752 community-dwelling men and women aged 55-85 years from the Hunter Region, New South Wales. RESULTS Overall, 51% of participants felt spirituality or religion was important in their lives and 24% attended religious services at least 2-3 times a month. In univariate regression analyses, ISR and RSA were associated with increased levels of social support (P < 0.001). However, ISR was also associated with more comorbidities (incidence-rate ratio= 1.2, 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.33). There were no statistically significant associations between ISR or RSA and other measures such as mental and physical health. CONCLUSION Spirituality and religious involvement have a beneficial impact on older Australians' perceptions of social support, and may enable individuals to better cope with the presence of multiple comorbidities later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Moxey
- Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
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