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The Prevalence and Antecedents of Religious Beliefs About Health Control in the US Population: Variations by Race and Religious Background

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Abstract

The ways in which religious beliefs influence beliefs about health have important implications for motivation to engage in positive health behaviors and comply with medical treatment. This study examines the prevalence of two health-related religious beliefs: belief in healing miracles and deferral of responsibility for health outcomes to God. Data came from a representative nationwide US survey of religion and health (N = 3010). Full-factorial ANOVA indicated that there were significant differences in both dimensions of belief by race, by religious background, and by the interaction between the two. Black people believed religion played the largest role in health regardless of religious background. Among White and Hispanic groups, Evangelical Protestants placed more responsibility for their health on God in comparison with other religious groups. ANCOVA controlling for background factors socioeconomic status, health, and religious involvement partially explained these group differences.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation (#40077).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, St. John Hospital & Medical Center, 22151 Moross Rd., PB I, Ste. 212, Detroit, MI, 48236, USA

    R. David Hayward

  2. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Neal Krause

  3. Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA

    Kenneth Pargament

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  1. R. David Hayward
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  2. Neal Krause
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Correspondence to R. David Hayward.

Appendix

Appendix

Tables of means and estimated marginal means for race by religious background subgroups.

See Tables 3 and 4.

Table 3 Estimated marginal means for belief in miracles by race and religious denomination
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Table 4 Estimated marginal means for divine deferral by race and religious denomination
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Hayward, R.D., Krause, N. & Pargament, K. The Prevalence and Antecedents of Religious Beliefs About Health Control in the US Population: Variations by Race and Religious Background. J Relig Health 56, 2194–2211 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0391-3

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