Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Religiosity/Spirituality and Physiological Markers of Health

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The long-standing interest in the effects of religiosity and spirituality (R/S) on health outcomes has given rise to a large and diverse literature. We conducted a meta-analysis on research involving R/S and physiological markers of health to elucidate both the scope and mechanism(s) of this phenomenon. A combined analysis found a significant, but small, beneficial effect. Subgroup analyses found that some measures of both extrinsic and intrinsic religiosity were significantly associated with health. Several outcome measures, including blood pressure, C-reactive protein, and cardiovascular health markers, were significantly associated with R/S. Our findings suggest that R/S benefits health, perhaps through minimizing the disruptive effects of stress/depression on inflammation. We hope that researchers can use these results to guide efforts aimed at elucidating the true mechanism(s) linking religious/spiritual beliefs and physical health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

*** Denotes study included in analysis

  • *** Ai, A. L., Pargament, K., Kronfol, Z., Tice, T. N., & Appel, H. (2010). Pathways to postoperative hostility in cardiac patients: Mediation of coping, spiritual struggle, and interleukin-6. Journal of Health Psychology,15, 186–195.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Ai, A. L., Seymour, E. M., Tice, T. N., Kronfol, Z., & Bolling, S. F. (2009a). Spiritual struggle related to plasma interleukin-6 prior to cardiac surgery. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality,1, 112–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Ai, A. L., Wink, P., Tice, T. N., Bolling, S. F., & Shearer, M. (2009b). Prayer and reverence in naturalistic, aesthetic, and socio-moral contexts predicted fewer complications following coronary artery bypass. Journal of Behavioral Medicine,32, 570–581.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Al Zaben, F., Khalifa, D. A., Sehlo, M. G., Al Shohaib, S., Binzaqr, S. A., Badreg, A. M., et al. (2015). Religious involvement and health in dialysis patients in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Religion and Health,54, 713–730.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Anyfantakis, D., Symvoulakis, E. K., Panagiotakos, D. B., Tsetis, D., Castanas, E., Shea, S., et al. (2013). Impact of religiosity/spirituality on biological and preclinical markers related to cardiovascular disease: Results from the SPILI III study. Hormones,12, 386–396.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Assari, S., Lankarani, M. M., Malekahmadi, M. R., Caldwell, C. H., & Zimmerman, M. (2015). Baseline religion involvement predicts subsequent salivary cortisol levels among male but not female black youth. International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism,13, e31790.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Ayers, J. W., Irvin, V. L., Park, H.-R., Hovell, M. F., Hofstetter, C. R., Song, Y., et al. (2010). Can religion help prevent obesity? Religious messages and the prevalence of being overweight or obese among Korean women in California. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion,49, 536–549.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Banerjee, A. T., Boyle, M. H., Anand, S. S., Strachan, P. H., & Oremus, M. (2014). The relationship between religious service attendance and coronary heart disease and related risk factors in Saskatchewan, Canada. Journal of Religion and Health,53, 141–156.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Beeri, M. S., Davidson, M., Silverman, J. M., Schmeidler, J., Springer, R. R., Noy, S., et al. (2008). Religious education and midlife observance are associated with dementia three decades later in Israeli men. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology,61, 1161–1168.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Bell, C. N., Bowie, J. V., & Thorpe, R. J., Jr. (2012). The interrelationship between hypertension and blood pressure, attendance at religious services, and race/ethnicity. Journal of Religion and Health,51, 310–322.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Berntson, G. G., Norman, G. J., Hawkley, L. C., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2008). Spirituality and autonomic cardiac control. Annals of Behavioral Medicine,35, 198–208.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Bharmal, N., Kaplan, R. M., Shapiro, M. F., Kagawa-Singer, M., Wong, M. D., Mangione, C. M., et al. (2013). The association of religiosity with overweight/obese body mass index among Asian Indian immigrants in California. Preventative Medicine,57, 315–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaschke, F. (2004). C-reactive protein induces apoptosis in human coronary vascular smooth muscle cells. Circulation,110, 579–587.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P. T., & Rothstein, H. R. (2009). Introduction to meta-analysis. West Sussex: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Boss, L., Branson, S., Cron, S., & Kang, D.-H. (2016). Biobehavioral examination of religious coping, psychosocial factors, and executive function in homebound older adults. Religions,7, 42–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, D. W., Giles, W. H., & Croft, J. B. (2001). White blood cell count: An independent predictor of coronary heart disease mortality among a national cohort. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology,54, 316–322.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buck, A. C., Williams, D. R., Musick, M. A., & Sternthal, M. J. (2009). An examination of the relationship between multiple dimensions of religiosity, blood pressure, and hypertension. Social Science and Medicine,68, 314–322.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Burazeri, G., Goda, A., & Kark, J. D. (2008). Religious observance and acute coronary syndrome in predominantly Muslim Albania: A population-based case-control study in Tirana. Annals of Epidemiology,18, 937–945.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Charlemagne-Badal, S. J., & Lee, J. W. (2016a). Intrinsic religiosity and hypertension among older North American Seventh-Day Adventists. Journal of Religion and Health,55, 695–708.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Charlemagne-Badal, S. J., & Lee, J. W. (2016b). Religious social support and hypertension among older North American Seventh-Day Adventists. Journal of Religion and Health,55, 709–728.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chida, Y., Steptoe, A., & Powell, L. H. (2009). Religiosity/spirituality and mortality. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics,78, 81–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Cline, K. M. C., & Ferraro, K. F. (2006). Does religion increase the prevalence and incidence of obesity in adulthood? Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion,45, 269–281.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Contrada, R. J., Boulifard, D. A., Hekler, E. B., Idler, E. L., Spruill, T. M., Labouvie, E. W., et al. (2008). Psychosocial factors in heart surgery: Presurgical vulnerability and postsurgical recovery. Health Psychology,27, 309–319.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coursey, L. E., Kenworthy, J. B., & Jones, J. R. (2013). A meta-analysis of the relationship between intrinsic religiosity and locus of control. Archive for the Psychology of Religion,35, 347–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Dalmida, S. G., Holstad, M. M., Dilorio, C., & Laderman, G. (2009). Spiritual well-being, depressive symptoms, and immune status among women living with HIV/AIDS. Journal of Women’s Health,49, 119–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dedert, E. A., Studts, J. L., Weissbecker, I., Salmon, P. G., Banis, P. L., & Sephton, S. E. (2004). Religiosity may help preserve the cortisol rhythm in women with stress-related illness. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine,34, 61–77.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Derks, W., de Leeuw, J. R. J., Hordijk, G. J., & Winnubst, J. A. M. (2005). Differences in coping styles and locus of control between older and younger patients with head and neck cancer. Clinical Otolaryngology,30, 186–192.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhabhar, F. S. (2014). Effects of stress on immune function: The good, the bad, and the beautiful. Immunologic Research,58, 193–210.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Doster, J. A., Harvey, M. B., Riley, C. A., Goven, A. J., & Moorefield, R. (2002). Spirituality and cardiovascular risk. Journal of Religion and Health,41, 69–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duvall, S., & Tweedie, R. (2000). Trim and fill: A simple funnel-plot-based method of testing and adjusting for publication bias in meta-analysis. Biometrics,56, 455–463.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Edmondson, K. A., Lawler, K. A., Jobe, R. L., Younger, J. W., Piferi, R. L., & Jones, W. H. (2005). Spirituality predicts health and cardiovascular responses to stress in young adult women. Journal of Religion and Health,44, 161–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., & Lee, J. (2010). Spiritual struggles and psychological distress: Is there a dark side of religion? Social Indicators Research,98, 501–517.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Feinstein, M., Liu, K., Ning, H., Fitchett, G., & Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (2010). Burden of cardiovascular risk factors, subclinical atherosclerosis, and incident cardiovascular events across dimensions of religiosity: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Circulation,121, 659–666.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Feinstein, M., Liu, K., Ning, H., Fitchett, G., & Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (2012). Incident obesity and cardiovascular risk factors between young adulthood and middle age by religious involvement: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. Preventative Medicine,54, 117–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Fitchett, G., & Powell, L. H. (2009). Daily spiritual experiences, systolic blood pressure, and hypertension among midlife women in SWAN. Annals of Behavioral Medicine,37, 257–267.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Ford, E. S., Loucks, E. B., & Berkman, L. F. (2006). Social integration and concentrations of C-reactive protein among US adults. Annals of Epidemiology,16, 78–84.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Franklin, M. D., Schlundt, D. G., McClellan, L. H., Kinebrew, T., Sheats, J., Belue, R., et al. (2007). Religious fatalism and its association with health behaviors and outcomes. American Journal of Health Behaviors,31, 563–572.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Friedlander, Y., Kark, J. D., Kaufmann, N. A., & Stein, Y. (1985). Coronary heart disease risk factors among religious groupings in a Jewish population sample in Jerusalem. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,42, 511–521.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Friedlander, Y., Kark, J. D., & Stein, Y. (1986). Religious orthodoxy and myocardial infarction in Jerusalem—A case control study. International Journal of Cardiology,10, 33–41.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Friedlander, Y., Kark, J. D., & Stein, Y. (1987). Religious observance and plasma lipids and lipoproteins among 17-year old Jewish residents of Jerusalem. Preventative Medicine,16, 70–79.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • *** Gainey, A., Himathongkam, T., Tanaka, H., & Suksom, D. (2016). Effects of Buddhist walking meditation on glycemic control and vascular function in patients with type 2 diabetes. Complementary Therapies in Medicine,26, 92–97.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Gauthier, L. R., Rodin, G., Zimmermann, C., Warr, D., Moore, M., Shepherd, F., et al. (2009). Acceptance of pain: A study in patients with advanced cancer. Pain,143, 147–154.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gervais, W. M., & Norenzayan, A. (2012). Analytic thinking promotes religious disbelief. Science,336, 493–496.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Gillum, R. F., & Holt, C. L. (2010). Religious involvement and seroprevalence of six infectious diseases in US adults. Southern Medical Journal,103, 403–408.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, J. S., Penedo, F. J., Antoni, M. H., Durán, R. E., McPherson-Baker, S., Ironson, G., et al. (2004). Social support, positive states of mind, and HIV treatment adherence in men and women living with HIV/AIDS. Health Psychology,23, 413–418.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Greer, D. B., & Abel, W. M. (2017). Religious/spiritual coping in older African American women. The Qualitative Report,22, 237–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Grosse-Holtforth, M., Pathak, A., Koenig, H. G., Cohen, H. J., Pieper, C. F., & Vanhook, L. G. (1996). Medical illness, religion, health control, and depression of institutionalized medically ill veterans in long-term care. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry,11, 613–620.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Guilherme, C., Ribeiro, G. R., Caldeira, S., Zamarioli, C. M., dS Oliveira-Kumakura, A. R., Almeida, A. M., et al. (2016). Effect of the “Spiritual Support” intervention on spirituality and the clinical parameters of women who have undergone mastectomy: A pilot study. Religions,7(3), 26.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Han, S. H., Tavares, J. L., Evans, M., Saczynski, J., & Burr, J. A. (2017). Social activities, incident cardiovascular disease, and mortality: Health behaviors meditation. Journal of Aging and Health,29, 268–288.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Harris, R. C., Dew, M. A., Lee, A., Amaya, M., Buches, L., Reetz, D., et al. (1995). The role of religion in heart-transplant recipients’ long-term health and well-being. Journal of Religion and Health,34, 17–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, T. D., Rote, S. M., & Ellison, C. G. (2017). Religious participation and biological functioning in Mexico. Journal of Aging and Health,29, 951–972.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Hill, T. D., Rote, S. M., Ellison, C. G., & Burdette, A. M. (2014). Religious attendance and biological functioning: A multiple specification approach. Journal of Aging and Health,26, 766–785.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, C. A., & Jones, S. A. (2015). IL-6 as a keystone cytokine in health and disease. Nature Immunology,16, 448–457.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Hybels, C. F., George, L. K., Blazer, D. G., Pieper, C. F., Cohen, H. J., & Koenig, H. G. (2014). Inflammation and coagulation as mediators in the relationships between religious attendance and functional limitations in older adults. Journal of Aging and Health,26, 679–697.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Inzelberg, R., Afgin, A. E., Massarwa, M., Schechtman, E., Israeli-Korn, S. D., Strugatsky, R., et al. (2013). Prayer at midlife is associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline in Arabic women. Current Alzheimer Research,10, 340–346.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Ironson, G., Solomon, G. F., Balbin, E. G., O’Cleirigh, C., George, A., Kumar, M., et al. (2002). The Ironson-Woods Spirituality/Religiousness Index is associated with long survival, health behaviors, less distress, and low cortisol in people with HIV/AIDS. Annals of Behavioral Medicine,24, 34–48.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ironson, G., Stuetzle, R., Ironson, D., Balbin, E., Kremer, H., George, A., et al. (2011). View of God as benevolent and forgiving or punishing and judgmental predicts HIV disease progression. Journal of Behavioral Medicine,34, 414–425.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jim, H. S. L., Pustejovsky, J. E., Park, C. L., Danhauer, S. C., Sherman, A. C., Fitchett, G., et al. (2015). Religion, spirituality, and physical health in cancer patients: A meta-analysis. Cancer,121, 3760–3768.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Jones, B. M. (2001). Changes in cytokine production in healthy subjects practicing Guolin Qigong: A pilot study. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine,1, 8.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Joughin, N., Crisp, A. H., Halek, C., & Humphrey, H. (1992). Religious belief and anorexia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders,12, 397–406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, Z., Matar, M. A., Kamin, R., Sadan, T., & Cohen, H. (2005). Stress-related responses after 3 years of exposure to terror in Israel: Are ideological-religious factors associated with resilience? Journal of Clinical Psychiatry,66, 1146–1154.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Kaufman, Y., Anaki, D., Binns, M., & Freedman, M. (2007). Cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease: Impact of spirituality, religiosity, and QOL. Neurology,68, 1509–1514.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., McGuire, L., Robles, T. F., & Glaser, R. (2002). Emotions, morbidity, and mortality: New perspectives from psychoneuroimmunology. Annual Review of Psychology,53, 83–107.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** King, D. E., Mainous, A. G., III, & Pearson, W. S. (2002). C-reactive protein, diabetes, and attendance at religious services. Diabetes Care,25, 1172–1176.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** King, D. E., Mainous, A. G., III, Steyer, T. E., & Pearson, W. (2001). The relationship between attendance at religious services and cardiovascular inflammatory markers. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine,31, 415–425.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Kinney, A. Y., Bloor, L. E., Dudley, W. N., Millikan, R. C., Marshall, E., Martin, C., et al. (2003). Roles of religious involvement and social support in the risk of colon cancer among blacks and whites. American Journal of Epidemiology,158, 1097–1107.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirschbaum, C., Prussner, J. C., Stone, A. A., Federenko, I., Gaab, J., Lintz, D., et al. (1995). Persistent high cortisol responses to repeated psychological stress in a subpopulation of healthy men. Psychosomatic Medicine,57, 468–474.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Kobayashi, D., Shimbo, T., Takahashi, O., Davis, R. B., & Wee, C. C. (2015). The relationship between religiosity and cardiovascular risk factors in Japan: A large-scale cohort study. Journal of the American Society of Hypertension,9, 553–562.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Koenig, H. G. (1998). Religious attitudes and practices of hospitalized medically ill older adults. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry,13, 213–224.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G. (2002). The connection between psychoneuroimmunology and religion. In H. G. Koenig & H. J. Cohen (Eds.), The link between religion and health: Psychoneuroimmunology and the faith factor (pp. 11–30). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G. (2009). Research on religion, spirituality, and mental health: A review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry,54, 283–291.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G., & Büssing, A. (2010). The Duke University Religion Index (DUREL): A five-Item measure for use in epidemiological studies. Religions,1, 78–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Koenig, H. G., Cohen, H. J., George, L. K., Hays, J. C., Larson, D. B., & Blazer, D. G. (1997). Attendance at religious services, interleukin-6, and other biological parameters of immune function in older adults. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine,27, 233–250.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G., Hays, J. C., Larson, D. B., George, L. K., Cohen, H. J., McCullough, M., et al. (1999a). Does religious attendance prolong survival? A six-year follow-up study of 3,968 older adults. The Journals of Gerontology Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences,54A, M370–M377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, W., Sund, M., Fröhlich, M., Fischer, H. G., Löwel, H., Döring, A., et al. (1999b). C-Reactive protein, a sensitive marker of inflammation, predicts future risk of coronary heart disease in initially healthy middle-aged men: Results from the MONICA (Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease) Augsburg Cohort Study, 1984 to 1992. Circulation,99, 237–242.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, L. B., & Vaillant, G. E. (2009). A prospective study of church attendance and health over the lifespan. Health Psychology,28, 117–124.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kortt, M. A., & Dollery, B. (2014). Religion and BMI in Australia. Journal of Religion and Health,53, 217–228.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Krause, N., Ironson, G., & Pargament, K. I. (2016). Spiritual struggles and resting pulse rates: Does strong distress tolerance promote more effective coping? Personality and Individual Differences,98, 261–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kremer, H., Ironson, G., Kaplan, L., Stuetzele, R., Baker, N., & Fletcher, M. A. (2015). Spiritual coping predicts CD4-cell preservation and undetectable viral load over four years. AIDS Care,27, 71–79.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Kurita, A., Takase, B., Shinagawa, N., Kodani, E., Okada, K., Iwahara, S., et al. (2011). Spiritual activation in very elderly individuals assessed as heart rate variability and plasma IL-10/IL-6 ratios. International Heart Journal,52, 299–303.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Larson, D. B., Koenig, H. G., Kaplan, B. H., Greenberg, R. S., Logue, E., & Tyroler, H. A. (1989). The impact of religion on men’s blood pressure. Journal of Religion and Health,28, 265–278.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Lawler, K. A., & Younger, J. W. (2002). Theobiology: An analysis of spirituality, cardiovascular responses, stress, mood, and physical health. Journal of Religion and Health,41, 347–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. Y., & Newberg, A. B. (2005). Religion and health: A review and critical analysis. Zygon,40, 443–468.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leserman, J., Jackson, E. D., Petitto, J. M., Golden, R. N., Silva, S. G., Perkins, D. O., et al. (1999). Progression to AIDS: The effects of stress, depressive symptoms, and social support. Psychosomatic Medicine,61, 397–406.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Levin, J. (2012). Religion and physical health among older Israeli Jews: Findings from the SHARE-Israel Study. Israeli Medical Association Journal,14, 595–601.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, J. S., & Markides, K. S. (1985). Religion and health in Mexican Americans. Journal of Religion and Health,24, 60–69.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Lutgendorf, S. K., Russell, D., Ullrich, P., Harris, T. B., & Wallace, R. (2004). Religious participation, interleukin-6, and mortality in older adults. Health Psychology,23, 465–475.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maltby, J., & Day, L. (2003). Religious orientation, religious coping, and appraisals of stress: Assessing primary appraisal factors in the relationship between religiosity and psychological well-being. Personality and Individual Differences,34, 1209–1224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marketon, J. I. W., & Glaser, R. (2008). Stress hormones and immune function. Cellular Immunology,252, 16–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Maselko, J., Kubzansky, L., Kawachi, I., Seeman, T., & Berkman, L. (2007). Religious service attendance and allostatic load among high-functioning elderly. Psychosomatic Medicine,69, 464–472.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Masters, K. S., & Knestel, A. (2011). Religious orientation among a random sample of community-dwelling adults: Relations with health status and health-relevant behaviors. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion,21, 63–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters, K. S., & Spielmans, G. I. (2007). Prayer and health: Review, meta-analysis, and research agenda. Journal of Behavioral Medicine,30, 329–338.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** McCain, N. L., Gray, D. P., Elswick, R. K., Jr., Robins, J. W., Tuck, I., Walter, J. M., et al. (2008). A randomized clinical trial of alternative stress management interventions in persons with HIV infection. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,76, 431–441.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • McClelland, D. C. (1988). The effect of motivational arousal through films on salivary immunoglobulin A. Psychology and Health,2, 31–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConnell, K. M., Pargament, K. I., Ellison, C. G., & Flannelly, K. J. (2006). Examining the links between spiritual struggles and symptoms of psychopathology in a national sample. Journal of Clinical Psychology,62, 1469–1484.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCullough, M. E., Hoyt, W. T., Larson, D. B., Koenig, H. G., & Thoresen, C. (2000). Religious involvement and mortality: A meta-analytic review. Health Psychology,19, 211–222.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** McGee, J. S., Myers, D. R., Carlson, H., Funai, A. P., & Barclay, P. A. (2013). Spirituality, faith, and mild Alzheimer’s disease. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion,24, 221–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moussavi, S., Chatterji, S., Verdes, E., Tandon, A., Patel, V., & Ustun, B. (2007). Depression, chronic diseases, and decrements in health: Results from the World Health Surveys. The Lancet,370, 851–858.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Murray-Swank, A., Goldberg, R., Dickerson, F., Medoff, D., Wohlheiter, K., & Dixson, L. (2007). Correlates of religious service attendance and contact with religious leaders among persons with co-occurring serious mental illness and type 2 diabetes. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease,195, 382–388.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Neumann, J. K., & Chi, D. S. (1999). Relationship of church giving to immunological and TxPA stress response. Journal of Psychology and Theology,27, 43–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Newlin, K., Melkus, G. D., Chyun, D., & Jefferson, V. (2003). The relationship of spirituality and health outcomes in black women with type 2 diabetes. Ethnicity and Disease,13, 61–68.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newlin, K., Melkus, G. D., Rappen, R., Chyun, D., & Koenig, H. G. (2008). Relationships of religion and spirituality to glycemic control in black women with type 2 diabetes. Nursing Research,57, 331–339.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Nightingale, V. R., Sher, T. G., Thilges, S., Niel, K., Rolfsen, N., & Hansen, N. B. (2011). Non-conventional practices and immune functioning among individuals receiving conventional care for HIV. Journal of Health Psychology,16, 1241–1250.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Núñez, J., Núñez, E., Bodí, V., Sanchis, J., Miñana, G., Mainar, L., et al. (2008). Usefulness of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in predicting long-term mortality in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. American Journal of Cardiology,101, 747–752.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nuttall, F. Q. (2015). Body mass index: Obesity, BMI, and health: A critical review. Nutrition Today,50, 117–128.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Pace, T. W. W., Negi, L. T., Adame, D. D., Cole, S. P., Sivilli, T. I., Brown, T. D., et al. (2009). Effect of compassion meditation on neuroendocrine, innate immune, and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology,34, 87–98.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Paiva, C. E., Paiva, B. S. R., Yennurajalingam, S., & Hui, D. (2014). The impact of religiosity and individual prayer activities on advance cancer patients’ health: Is there any difference in function of whether or not receiving palliative anti-neoplastic therapy? Journal of Religion and Health,53, 1717–1727.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., Koenig, H. G., Tarakeshwar, N., & Hahn, J. (2001). Religious struggle as a predictor of mortality among medically ill elderly patients: A 2-year longitudinal study. Archives of Internal Medicine,161, 1881–1885.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Park, C. L., Wortmann, J. H., & Edmondson, D. (2011). Religious struggle as a predictor of subsequent mental and physical well-being in advanced heart failure patients. Journal of Behavioral Medicine,34, 426–436.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Peltzer, K., Pengpid, S., Samuels, T. A., Özcan, N. K., Mantilla, C., Rahamefy, O., et al. (2014). Prevalence of overweight/obesity and its associated factors among university students from 22 countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,11, 7425–7441.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Pengpid, S., & Peltzer, K. (2014). Prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity and its associated factors among a sample of university students in India. Obesity Research and Clinical Practice,8, e558–e570.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Pengpid, S., & Peltzer, K. (2015). Prevalence of overweight and underweight and its associated factors among male and female university students in Thailand. HOMO—Journal of Comparative. Human Biology,66, 176–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Phelps, A. C., Maciejewski, P. K., Nilsson, M., Balboni, T. A., Wright, A. A., Paulk, M. E., et al. (2009). Religious coping and use of intensive life-prolonging care near death in patients with advanced cancer. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association,301, 1140–1147.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pruessner, J. C., Baldwin, M. W., Dedovic, K., Renwick, R., Mahani, N. K., Lord, C., et al. (2005). Self-esteem, locus of control, hippocampal volume, and cortisol regulation in young and old adulthood. NeuroImage,28, 815–826.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Raghavan, R., Ferlic-Stark, L., Clarke, C., Rungta, M., & Goodgame, R. (2013). The role of patient religiosity in the evaluation and treatment outcomes from chronic HCV infection. Journal of Religion and Health,52, 79–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Reeves, R. R., Adams, C. E., Dubbert, P. M., Hickson, D. A., & Wyatt, S. B. (2012). Are religiosity and spirituality associated with obesity among African Americans in the Southeastern United States (the Jackson Heart Study)? Journal of Religion and Health,51, 32–48.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Reynolds, N., Mrug, S., Britton, L., Guion, K., Wolfe, K., & Gutierrez, H. (2014). Spiritual coping predicts 5-year health outcomes in adolescents with cystic fibrosis. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis,13, 593–600.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ridker, P. M., Hennekens, C. H., Buring, J. E., & Rifai, N. (2000). C-reactive protein and other markers of inflammation in the prediction of cardiovascular disease in women. New England Journal of Medicine,342, 836–843.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Robins, J. L., Elswick, R. K., Jr., Sturgill, J., & McCain, N. L. (2016). The effects of Tai Chi on cardiovascular risk in women. American Journal of Health Promotion,30, 613–622.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenkranz, M. A., Jackson, D. C., Dalton, K. M., Dolski, I., Ryff, C. D., Singer, B. H., et al. (2003). Affective style and in vivo immune response: Neurobehavioral mechanisms. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United Sates of America,100, 11148–11152.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saffari, M., Pakpour, A. H., Naderi, M. K., Koenig, H. G., Baldacchino, D. R., & Piper, C. N. (2013). Spiritual coping, religiosity, and quality of life: A study on Muslim patients undergoing haemodialysis. Nephrology,18, 269–275.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sahakyan, K. R., Somers, V. K., Rodriguez-Escudero, J. P., Hodge, D. O., Carter, R. E., Sochor, O., et al. (2015). Normal weight central obesity: Implications for total and cardiovascular mortality. Annals of Internal Medicine,163, 827–835.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Schlundt, D. G., Franklin, M. D., Patel, K., McClellan, L., Larson, C., Niebler, S., et al. (2008). Religious affiliation, health behaviors, and outcomes: Nashville REACH 2010. American Journal of Health Behavior,32, 714–724.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Schuster, R., Bornovalova, M., & Hunt, E. (2011). The Influence of depression on the progression of HIV. Behavior Modification,36, 123–145.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seeman, T. E., Dubin, L. F., & Seeman, M. (2003). Religiosity/spirituality and health: A critical review of the evidence for biological pathways. American Psychologist,58, 53–63.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Sephton, S. E., Koopman, C., Schaal, M. S., Thoreson, C., & Spiegel, D. (2001). Spiritual expression and immune status in women with metastatic breast cancer: An exploratory study. The Breast Journal,7, 345–353.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shariff, A. F., Cohen, A. B., & Norenzayan, A. (2008). The devil’s advocate: Secular arguments diminish both implicit and explicit religious belief. Journal of Cognition and Culture,8, 417–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shariff, A. F., Willard, A. K., Andersen, T., & Norenzayan, A. (2015). Religious priming: A meta-analysis with a focus on prosociality. Personality and Social Psychology Review,20, 27–48.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Simonelli, L. E., Fowler, J., Maxwell, G. L., & Andersen, B. L. (2008). Physical sequelae and depressive symptoms in gynecologic cancer survivors: Meaning in life as a mediator. Annals of Behavioral Medicine,35, 275–284.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, S. K., Suresh, M. V., Voleti, B., & Agrawal, A. (2009). The connection between C reactive protein and atherosclerosis. Annals of Medicine,40, 110–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Sørensen, T., Danbolt, L. J., Lien, L., Koenig, H. G., & Holmen, J. (2011). The relationship between religious attendance and blood pressure: The Hunt Study, Norway. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine,42, 13–28.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stefanek, M., McDonald, P. G., & Hess, S. A. (2005). Religion, spirituality, and cancer: Current status and methodological challenges. Psycho-oncology,14, 450–463.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Steffen, P. R., Hinderliter, A. L., Blumenthal, J. A., & Sherwood, A. (2001). Religious coping, ethnicity, and ambulatory blood pressure. Psychosomatic Medicine,63, 523–530.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steptoe, A., Hamer, M., & Chida, Y. (2007). The effects of acute psychological stress on circulating inflammatory factors in humans: A review and meta-analysis. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity,21, 901–912.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steptoe, A., & Wardle, J. (2001). Locus of control and health behavior revisited: A multivariate analysis of young adults from 18 countries. British Journal of Psychology,92, 659–672.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Stewart, O., Yamarat, K., Neeser, K. J., Lertmaharit, S., & Holroyd, E. (2014). Buddhist religious practices and blood pressure among elderly in rural Uttaradit Province, northern Thailand. Nursing and Health Sciences,16, 119–125.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strawbridge, W. J., Cohen, R. D., Shema, S. J., & Kaplan, G. A. (1997). Frequent attendance at religious services and mortality over 28 years. American Journal of Public Health,87, 957–961.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • *** Sudsuang, R., Chentanez, V., & Veluvan, K. (1991). Effect of Buddhist meditation on serum cortisol and total protein levels, blood pressure, pulse rate, lung volume, and reaction time. Physiology & Behavior,50, 543–548.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tartaro, J., Luecken, L. J., & Gunn, H. E. (2005). Exploring heart and soul: Effects of religiosity/spirituality and gender on blood pressure and cortisol stress responses. Journal of Health Psychology,10, 753–766.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valkanova, V., Ebmeier, K. P., & Allan, C. L. (2013). CRP, IL-6, and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Journal of Affective Disorders,150, 736–744.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Van Wagoner, N., Elopre, L., Westfall, A. O., Mugavero, M. J., Turan, J., & Hook, E. W. (2016). Reported church attendance at the time of entry into HIV care is associated with viral load suppression at 12 months. AIDS and Behavior,20, 1706–1712.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • VanderWeele, T. J. (2016). Religion and health: A synthesis. In J. R. Peteet & M. J. Balboni (Eds.), Spirituality and religion within the culture of medicine: From evidence to practice. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Wachholtz, A. B., & Pargament, K. I. (2005). Is spirituality a critical ingredient of meditation? Comparing the effects of spiritual meditation, secular meditation, and relaxation on spiritual, psychological, cardiac, and pain outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine,28, 369–384.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Walsh, A. (1980). The prophylactic effect of religion on blood pressure levels among a sample of immigrants. Social Science and Medicine,14, 59–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • *** Walsh, A. (1998). Religion and hypertension: Testing alternative explanations among immigrants. Behavioral Medicine,24, 122–130.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Walsh, A., & Walsh, P. A. (1987). Social support, assimilation, and biological effective blood pressure levels. International Migration Review,21, 577–591.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, T. E., Antoni, M. H., Ironson, G. H., & Kling, D. W. (1999a). Religiosity is associated with affective and immune status in symptomatic HIV-infected gay men. Journal of Psychosomatic Research,46, 165–176.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • *** Woods, T. E., Antoni, M. H., Ironson, G. H., & Kling, D. W. (1999b). Religiosity is associated with affective status in symptomatic HIV-infected African-American women. Journal of Health Psychology,4, 317–326.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Young, R., Sweeting, H., & Ellaway, A. (2011). Do schools differ in suicide risk? The influence of school and neighborhood on attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, and self-harm among secondary school pupils. BMC Public Health,11, 874.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Samantha Mendoza, Elisha Grey, and Christian Dupuy provided assistance with the literature review.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Baylor University, One Bear Place 97173, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Eric C. Shattuck & Michael P. Muehlenbein

  2. Institute for Health Disparities Research, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA

    Eric C. Shattuck

Authors
  1. Eric C. Shattuck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael P. Muehlenbein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael P. Muehlenbein.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All authors declares that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shattuck, E.C., Muehlenbein, M.P. Religiosity/Spirituality and Physiological Markers of Health. J Relig Health 59, 1035–1054 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0663-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0663-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation