Therapeutic Health Benefits of Religion Among Elderly- A Population based Representative Survey from Iran

Abstract

Background: We determined whether practice of religious beliefs influence health-related lifestyle among

general elderly population.

Methods: We recruited elderly (60+years) subjects from among the general population who were invited to

answer practice of religious belief and healthy lifestyle in Iranian elderly questionnaires.

Results: A total of 218 elderly subjects participated (51.3% males, mean age: 68.3 years, SD 9.2, range

60-92). The mean religious belief was 73.0 (SD 11.5) without male-to-female difference (p=0.9). The mean

lifestyle was 100.9 (SD 14.7, range 61-138) with a 9.3% male-to-female difference, p=0.0001. The odds of

better lifestyle with religion was 5.5 (p=0.001, effect-size=0.18, variance=29.5%). The most benefit was in

prevention (effect-size 0.18), nutrition (effect-size 0.15), and social relationship (effect-size 0.12).

Conclusions: Based on a representative un-selected validated sample, and by using a systematic

questionnaire, and after controlling for various possible confounders, and within current evaluation limits,

we may conclude that religion may mitigate health-related lifestyle.