Gender Differences in Religious Practices, Spiritual Experiences and Health : Results from the US General Social Survey  

Oleh:

Maselko, Joanna ; Kubzansky, Laura D.

Jenis: Article from Journal - ilmiah internasional
Dalam koleksi: Social Science & Medicine (www.elsevier.com/locate/sosscimed) vol. 62 no. 11 (Jun. 2006), page 2848-2860.
Topik: RELIGIOUS; religious activity; spirirtuality; health; psychological distress; gender; denomination; USA

Ketersediaan

Perpustakaan Pusat (Semanggi) Nomor Panggil: SS53.4 Non-tandon: 1 (dapat dipinjam: 0) Tandon: tidak ada

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Even though a majority of americans report having spiritual / religious beliefs, the role of different dimensions of spirituality / religiousity in health is not well understood. Moreover given that the experience of spirituality / religiousity differs for men and women, it is possible that the strength of association between spirituality / religiousity and health may also differ by gender. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between spirituality / religiosity and three markers of health and well being and any gender differences in thse relationships. First, we test the hypothesis that engagement with formal religious institutions (i.e. public religious activity) will be more beneficial for men than for women and we examine the role of denominational affiliation in any observed differences. Second, we directly compare effects of three different kinds of religious activities (public and private religious activity and spiritual experience) of health and well being. Data are from the 1998 US General Social Survey, a nationally representative sample of non institutionalized adults. Participants were asked about the frequency of engaging in public and private religious activities and having spiritual experiences. Psychological distress, happiness and self rated health were used as indicators of healthy and well being. Results suggest that weekly oublic religious activity was significantly asssociated with better health and well being. Furthermore, this relationship was stronger for men than woman and was influenced by denominational affiliation. When public religious activity, private religious activity and spiritual experiences were considered simultaneously, public religious activity emerged as the most consisten predictor of health and well being among men. Among women, both public religious activity and spiritual experiences maintained an independent association with the health and well being. These results suggest that it may not be appropriate to generalize findings about the relationship between spirituality / religiousity and health from one form of spirituality / religiosity to another, across denominations or to assume effects are uniform for men and women.

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