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Cited by 409Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyWorkplace Spirituality and LeadershipReligion and Society Interactions

Religiosity/Spirituality and Mortality

Chida, Yoichi, Steptoe, Andrew, Powell, Lynda H.·2009·Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
DOI 10.1159/000190791
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Abstract

Background: The relationship between religiosity/spirituality and physical health has been the subject of growing interest in epidemiological research. We systematically reviewed prospective observational cohort studies of the association between this potentially protective psychological factor and mortality using meta-analytic methods. Methods: We searched general bibliographic databases: Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science and PubMed (up to 20 March, 2008). Two reviewers independently extracted data on study characteristics, quality, and estimates of associations. Random effects meta-analyses, subgrouping, and sensitivity analysis were performed. Results: There were 69 studies (28 articles) and 22 studies (11 articles) investigating the association between religiosity/spirituality and mortality in initially healthy populations and diseased populations, respectively. The results of the meta-analyses showed that religiosity/spirituality was associated with reduced mortality in healthy population studies (combined hazard ratio = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.76–0.87, p <0.001), but not in diseased population studies (combined hazard ratio = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.94–1.01, p = 0.19). Notably, the protective effect of religiosity/spirituality in the initially healthy population studies was independent of behavioral factors (smoking, drinking, exercising, and socioeconomic status), negative affect, and social support. We divided studies according to the aspects of religiosity/spirituality measure examined, and found that organizational activity (e.g. church attendance) was associated with greater survival in healthy population studies. Multi-dimensional aspects were related to survival in both the healthy and diseased populations. Religiosity/spirituality was negatively associated with cardiovascular mortality in healthy population studies. Conclusions: The current review suggests that religiosity/spirituality has a favorable effect on survival, although the presence of publication biases indicates that results should be interpreted with caution.

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Crossref · 10.1159/000190791

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  • RS are linked to improved health and health-relevant outcomes among individuals with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and substance abuse.

    “are linked to a number of improved health and health-relevant outcomes among individuals with a variety of conditions such as cardiovascular disease (Chida et al., 2009), cancer (Laubmeier et al., 2004), and substance abuse (Geppert et al., 2007).”

    From Advancing our understanding of religion and spirituality in the context of behavioral medicine (2017) · cites this paper as Chida et al., 2009

  • Evidence from rigorously designed population studies and a seminal meta-analysis suggested an independent association between organizational religiosity (religious service attendance) and CVD mortality.

    “The evidence from rigorously designed population studies and from a seminal meta-analysis suggested the existence of an independent association between organizational religiosity (i.e., religious service attendance) and CVD mortality (Chida et al., 2009; Hummer et al., 1999; Oman et al., 2002).”

    From Advancing our understanding of religion and spirituality in the context of behavioral medicine (2017) · cites this paper as Chida et al., 2009

  • Overall, positive associations between RS and CVD were found in studies conducted among younger healthy individuals.

    “Overall, positive associations between RS and CVD were found in studies conducted among younger healthy individuals (Chida et al., 2009; Friedlander et al., 1986; Goldbourt et al., 1993; Hummer et al., 1999; Oman et al., 2002).”

    From Advancing our understanding of religion and spirituality in the context of behavioral medicine (2017) · cites this paper as Chida et al., 2009

  • Current evidence linking RS and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity remains inconclusive.

    “Taken together, the above findings indicate that despite the earlier meta-analytical finding of an independent association between RS and CVD outcomes (Chida et al., 2009), the current evidence linking RS and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity remains inconclusive”

    From Advancing our understanding of religion and spirituality in the context of behavioral medicine (2017) · cites this paper as Chida et al., 2009

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Authors
Chida, Y., Steptoe, A., & Powell, L. H.
Affiliations
  • University College London (GB)
  • Rush University Medical Center (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
Publisher
S. Karger AG
Published
2009
Volume
78
Issue
2
Pages
81-90
ISSN
  • 0033-3190 (ISSN-L)
  • 1423-0348
DOI
10.1159/000190791
OpenAlex
W2019612427
Cited by
409
References
88
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 71 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 32 · 2012: 25
FWCI
3.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Workplace Spirituality and Leadership
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
Keywords
religiosity, spirituality, mortality, survival, church attendance, cardiovascular mortality, healthy population, publication bias
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Humans, Psychophysiology, Religion, Meditation, Spirituality

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