There is a substantial body of evidence that demonstrates an association between religiosity and health outcomes in adults of all ages. Many studies have demonstrated that factors such as religious importance and service attendance may provide social vehicles for factors such as increased access to health care, better management of chronic diseases, and increased availability to preventive health services and education. These religious factors may also influence the way in which a person perceives and copes with his or her health issues.
Successful aging theory is a combination of three factors or characteristics: low risk of disease and disease-related disability, high mental and physical function, and active engagement with life. This theory allows for a more holistic approach to aging and health.
The overall goal of this observational study using quantitative data from the 1994/95 National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) was to analyze whether any statistically significant relationships exist between religiosity defined as religious devotion, importance, influence, and service attendance and the three factors of successful aging. The results demonstrated significant relationships between all religiosity variables and active engagement in life. Other statistically significant findings were discovered with the factors: self physical and mental health rating, times in the hospital, routine visits to the doctor, and certain religiosity variables. Many of the findings still existed when analyzed across demographic co-variants. Finally, the use of a theoretical model and logistic regression demonstrated that active engagement in life may be a bridge variable between successful aging health outcomes and service attendance.
The results dont show more religion means healthier, but that religion can play an intricate role in an individuals own health. The public health relevance of the study is to make public health professionals aware of the relationships that exist between religiosity and successful aging health outcomes. Religious venues may provide a good resource for preventive health services and education. Most importantly, a persons religious beliefs may affect the way a person deals with physical or mental illness. Public health professionals should embrace the religious beliefs of patients regardless of their own beliefs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-12072007-111103 |
| Date | 31 January 2008 |
| Creators | Jozwiak, Jeffrey L. |
| Contributors | Ravi K. Sharma, PhD, Kenneth J. Jaros, PhD, Jonathon Erlen, PhD, Valerie J.M. Watzlaf, PhD, RHIA, FAHIMA |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-12072007-111103/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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