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Religious Orientation and Health among Active Older Adults in the United States

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Abstract

This study utilizes a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic Religious Orientation Scales to explore the connection between religion and health in a sample of physically active, older adults. The revised Religious Orientation Scale and the RAND Short Form 36 (SF-36) were adopted to relate religious orientation (intrinsic, extrinsic, pro-religious, and non-religious) and self-rated mental and physical health status. Individuals of pro-religious orientation reported significantly worse health for physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, and energy or fatigue when compared with those of all other religious orientations; however, no dose–response relationships were found between religious orientation and self-rated health. The results of this study indicate that deleterious health effects may accompany pro-religious orientation. Caution is provided for directors of religious programs for older adults.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by a MEG grant from Brigham Young University. The authors wish to thank MaryAnne Tanner and Michael Hunter for excellent research assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave. Box 92, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA

    Bradley D. Hunter

  2. Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA

    Ray M. Merrill

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  1. Bradley D. Hunter
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  2. Ray M. Merrill
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Correspondence to Bradley D. Hunter.

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Hunter, B.D., Merrill, R.M. Religious Orientation and Health among Active Older Adults in the United States. J Relig Health 52, 851–863 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9530-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9530-4

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