Religiosity and Self-Rated Health: A Longitudinal Examination of Their Reciprocal Effects

This study examined reciprocal pathways between them with a three-wave panel dataset (General Social Survey, 2006–2010). Among Christians (N = 585), religious activities were associated with improved self-rated health, while conservative religious beliefs were associated with worsened health over time. Additionally, worse health was associated with increased engagement in religious activities and greater endorsement of conservative religious beliefs over time. Results highlight the need for additional research and theory to map the complexity of the religion–health connection.

Source: Journal of Religion and Health - April 21, 2015 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research