Spirituality/Medicine Interface Project

Religious Factors in Health and Medical Care among Older Adults

Authors: Jeff Levin, PHD, MPH, Linda M. Chatters, PHD, Robert Joseph Taylor, PHD, MSW

Abstract

For two decades, published research has linked religious participation to various health outcomes. These include diminished risk according to overall and cause-specific morbidity and mortality and to indices of health status, symptomatology, and psychiatric illness, especially depression and anxiety. What may not be apparent to physicians exposed to this literature through featured news stories over the past several years is its sheer volume: over 1,600 scholarly publications as of 2001, including 1,200 empirical studies, between 75 and 90% reporting a health benefit of religious practice

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References

1. Levin JS, Chatters LM. Research on religion and mental health: an overview of empirical findings and theoretical issues. In Koenig HG (ed): Handbook of Religion and Mental Health. San Diego, Academic Press, 1998, pp 33–50.
 
2. Schaie KW, Krause N, Booth A, eds. Religious Influences on Health and Well-Being in the Elderly.New York, Springer Publishing Company, 2004.
 
3. Levin J. God, Faith, and Health: Exploring the Spirituality-Healing Connection. NY, John Wiley & Sons, 2001.
 
4. Levin J, Chatters LM, Taylor RJ. Religion, health and medicine in African Americans: implications for physicians. J Natl Med Assoc 2005;97:237–249.
 
5. Chatters LM. Religion and health: public health research and practice. Annual Rev Public Health2000;21:335–367.