The text is adapted from a written transcript of the address to the US Air Force Chaplain Corps Summit, delivered by Tyler J. VanderWeele, on March 28, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. The address discussed rigorous empirical research on how religious participation and religious community are related to a number of health and well-being outcomes, along with the mechanisms behind these associations, and the implications of such religion health research to military chaplains, and to society more broadly.
Analyses of social network data have suggested that obesity, smoking, happiness, and loneliness all travel through social networks. Individuals exert ''contagion effects'' on one another through social ties and association. These analyses have come under critique because of the possibility that homophily from unmeasured factors may explain these statistical associations and because similar findings can be obtained when the same methodology is applied to height, acne, and headaches, for which the conclusion of contagion effects seems somewhat less plausible. The author uses sensitivity analysis techniques to assess the extent to which supposed contagion effects for obesity, smoking, happiness, and loneliness might be explained away by homophily or confounding and the extent to which the critique using analysis of data on height, acne, and headaches is relevant. Sensitivity analyses suggest that contagion effects for obesity and smoking cessation are reasonably robust to possible latent homophily or environmental confounding; those for happiness and loneliness are somewhat less so. Supposed effects for height, acne, and headaches are all easily explained away by latent homophily and confounding. The methodology that has been used in past studies for contagion effects in social networks, when used in conjunction with sensitivity analysis, may prove useful in establishing social influence for various behaviors and states. The sensitivity analysis approach can be used to address the critique of latent homophily as a possible explanation of associations interpreted as contagion effects.
Definitions of direct and indirect effects are given for settings in which individuals are clustered in groups or neighborhoods and in which treatments are administered at the group level. A particular intervention may affect individual outcomes both through its effect on the individual and by changing the group or neighborhood itself. Identification conditions are given for controlled direct effects and for natural direct and indirect effects. The interpretation of these identification conditions are discussed within the context of neighborhood research and multilevel modeling. Interventions at a single point in time and time-varying interventions are both considered. The definition of direct and indirect effects requires certain stability or no-interference conditions; some discussion is given as to how these no-interference conditions can be relaxed.
Mediation analysis is a useful and widely employed approach to studies in the field of psychology and in the social and biomedical sciences. The contributions of this paper are several-fold. First we seek to bring the developments in mediation analysis for non linear models within the counterfactual framework to the psychology audience in an accessible format and compare the sorts of inferences about mediation that are possible in the presence of exposure-mediator interaction when using a counterfactual versus the standard statistical approach. Second, the work by VanderWeele and Vansteelandt (2009, 2010) is extended here to allow for dichotomous mediators and count outcomes. Third, we provide SAS and SPSS macros to implement all of these mediation analysis techniques automatically and we compare the types of inferences about mediation that are allowed by a variety of software macros.
There is clear evidence that the prevalence of negative media reporting has increased substantially over the past years. There is evidence that this negative reporting adversely affects social interactions, and thereby also health and well-being outcomes. Given the wide reach of negative media reporting and the contagion of such reporting and the resulting interactions, the effects on health are arguably substantial. Moreover, there is little incentive at present for media outlets to change practices. A commitment of news outlets to report one positive story for every 3 negative stories, and of news consumers to restrict attention to outlets that do, could dramatically alter practices and, consequently, population health.
"The 2001 edition (1st) was a comprehensive review of history, research, and discussions on religion and health through the year 2000. The Appendix listed 1,200 separate quantitative studies on religion and health each rated in quality on 0-10 scale, followed by about 2,000 references and an extensive index for rapid topic identification. The 2012 edition (2nd) of the Handbook systematically updated the research from 2000 to 2010, with the number of quantitative studies then reaching the thousands. This 2022 edition (3rd) is the most scientifically rigorous addition to date, covering the best research published through 2021 with an emphasis on prospective studies and randomized controlled trials. Beginning with a Foreword by Dr. Howard K. Koh, former US Assistant Secretary for Health for the Department of Health and Human Services, this nearly 600,000-word volume examines almost every aspect of health, reviewing past and more recent research on the relationship between religion and health outcomes. Furthermore, nearly all of its 34 chapters conclude with clinical and community applications making this text relevant to both health care professionals (physicians, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, counsellors, psychologists, sociologists, etc.) and clergy (community clergy, chaplains, pastoral counsellors, etc.). The book's extensive Appendix focuses on the best studies, describing each study in a single line, allowing researchers to quickly locate the existing research. It should not be surprising that for Handbook for the past two decades has been the most cited of all references on religion and health"--
'Handbook of Religion and Health' has become the seminal research text on religion, spirituality, and health, outlining a rational argument for the connection between religion and health. For the past two decades, this handbook has been the most cited of all references on religion and health. This third edition covers the best research published through 2021 with an emphasis on prospective studies and randomised controlled trials. This volume examines research on the relationship between religion and health outcomes, surveys the historical connections between religion and health, and discusses the distinction between the terms 'religion' and 'spirituality' in research and clinical practice.
Zugriffsoptionen:
Die folgenden Links führen aus den jeweiligen lokalen Bibliotheken zum Volltext:
This edited volume explores conceptual and practical challenges in measuring well-being. Given the bewildering array of measures available and ambiguity regarding when and how to measure particular aspects of well-being, knowledge in the field can be difficult to reconcile. Representing numerous disciplines including psychology, economics, sociology, statistics, public health, theology, and philosophy, contributors consider the philosophical and theological traditions on happiness, well-being, and the good life, as well as recent empirical research on well-being and its measurement. Leveraging insights across diverse disciplines, they explore how research can help make sense of the proliferation of different measures and concepts while also proposing new ideas to advance the field. Some chapters engage with philosophical and theological traditions on happiness, well-being, and the good life; some evaluate recent empirical research on well-being and consider how measurement requirements may vary by context and purpose; and others more explicitly integrate methods and synthesize knowledge across disciplines. The final section offers a lively dialogue about a set of recommendations for measuring well-being derived from a consensus of the contributors. Collectively, the chapters provide insight into how scholars might engage beyond disciplinary boundaries and contribute to advances in conceptualizing and measuring well-being. Bringing together work from across often siloed disciplines will provide important insight regarding how people can transcend unhealthy patterns of both individual behavior and social organization in order to pursue the good life and build better societies.
Abstract Hypertension is a widespread and deadly medical condition in both the United States and around the world. This is particularly true for certain subgroups of the population, such as African Americans, older individuals, and those with poor access to healthcare or to treatments that can lower blood pressure (BP). Psychological, social, behavioral, cultural, and environmental risk factors for hypertension are now well-known, and controlling these risk factors can help to lower BP and prevent hypertension. This chapter examines the many reasons why religious involvement might affect BP or influence the development of hypertension. Systematic research is reviewed on the relationship between religion, religiosity, and blood pressure. Likewise, religious/spiritual interventions that have potential for lowering BP are reviewed. The relationship between religiosity and BP, however, is a complex one that is affected by many factors. Practical applications in the clinic and community are described.
Abstract This chapter examines the diagnosis, prevalence, and impact of bipolar disorder (BPD). Religion's influence on BPD through environmental and social pathways are examined. The possibility of religious delusions and hallucinations in BPD are acknowledged. The heart of this chapter, though, is a review of systematic research that has examined the relationship between religious involvement and BPD. The greatest weakness of most of this research is that more than 90% is cross-sectional, with few prospective studies and few if any randomized controlled trials. The authors find that in religious areas of the world (such as Brazil and India), religiosity and symptoms of bipolar disorder are closely intertwined, and in some cases, religiosity may conflict with and interfere with pharmacological treatment of the disorder. Finally, the chapter discusses clinical applications, including taking a careful spiritual history and supporting nonpathological religious beliefs and activities. Religious support and counsel by religious professionals are also emphasized.
Abstract This chapter examines the relationship between religiosity and positive emotions. It first reviews predictors of psychological well-being, examining various psychological theories of well-being that involve demographic factors, genetic influences, satisfaction of goals, and cognitive processes having to do with reference points in comparison to others. Next, it examines the impact of well-being on health more generally, including effects on social relationships, work performance, and psychological resilience, as well as on physical health and longevity. The authors then theorize how and why religion might impact psychological well-being, and review research examining the relationship between religiosity and psychological well-being, purpose and meaning in life, optimism, hope, gratitude, and self-esteem. The chapter concludes by providing recommendations for future research and describing clinical applications for mental health and religious professionals.
Abstract Healthy personality characteristics, good mental and physical health during adulthood, future social relationships, prosocial values, and risk of delinquency/crime are heavily influenced by the family environment. This chapter opens with a discussion of increasing divorce rates, and an examination of predictors of divorce (cohabitation, premarital sex, non-marital parity, socioeconomic factors, unstable parents) and the health consequences of divorce on adults and children. Next, predictors of family stability and functioning are examined, followed by a case vignette of a couple with marital conflict. The chapter then reviews the teachings of religious faith traditions on marriage, divorce, and the importance of family and children, speculating on what effect religious involvement might have on marital and family stability. Next, the chapter reviews research on the effects of religiosity on divorce, quality of the marital relationship, family stability, child abuse, and domestic violence. Finally, applications in the clinic and community are discussed and recommendations made.
Abstract This chapter examines the effects of religious involvement on the development of cerebrovascular disease (CBVD), on the precipitation of CBVD events such as stroke, and on the health outcomes that follow (recurrent stroke, disability, death). It begins by emphasizing that CBVD is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in later life and the second most common cause of death worldwide, second only to ischemic heart disease. It then examines risk factors for stroke and speculates how religious involvement might affect CBVD. This is followed by a review of early and more recent studies examining the relationship between religiosity and CBVD, the impact of religiosity on CBVD, and the effects of religious/spiritual interventions on CBVD. Recommendations for future research are provided, and practical applications in the clinic and the community are suggested. Religious/spiritual interventions to reverse the course of CBVD are also considered.
Abstract This chapter examines the effects of religious involvement on disease detection and prevention. Good health behaviors, engagement in disease-prevention activities (particularly regular medical/dental visits and vaccinations), early disease detection through screening, and compliance with medical treatments are essential for preserving and improving physical and mental health. Early and more recent research is reviewed on the effects that religious involvement has in this regard (both positive and negative), particularly in terms of behaviors such as cigarette smoking, exercise, diet, alcohol intake, use of illicit drugs, disease-screening activities, and compliance with immunizations. The authors examine the roles of healthcare professionals and religious professionals in helping to educate religious persons about the benefits of disease-prevention and health-promotion activities that will maintain and maximize health and ability to serve in their community.
