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

Authors

  • Adeleh Sadeghloo1 , Somayyeh Meshkani 2 Hamid Hojjati 3, Devender Bhalla4

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v14i3.10663

Keywords:

Epidemiology, religion, mental health, transcultural, social, health,

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.

Author Biography

Adeleh Sadeghloo1 , Somayyeh Meshkani 2 Hamid Hojjati 3, Devender Bhalla4

1 Research Scholar, Young Researchers and Elite Club, Aliabad Katoul Branch, Islamic Azad University, Aliabad

Katoul, Iran, 2 Research Scholar, Department of Midwifery And Nursing, Gorgan, Golestan university of Medical

Sciences, Gorgan, Iran, 3Associate Professor, Young Researchers and Elite Club, Aliabad Katoul Branch, Islamic

Azad University, Aliabad Katoul, Iran, 4 Associate Professor, Tropical Unit, Nepal Interest Group of Epilepsy and

Neurology, Kathmandu, Nepal

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Published

2020-07-30

How to Cite

Adeleh Sadeghloo1 , Somayyeh Meshkani 2 Hamid Hojjati 3, Devender Bhalla4. (2020). Therapeutic Health Benefits of Religion Among Elderly- A Population based Representative Survey from Iran. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 14(3), 1716–1720. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v14i3.10663

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 3 (2020): Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

Section

Articles

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