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Cited by 253Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyReligion and Society InteractionsHealth disparities and outcomes

Religion, Health, and Nonphysical Senses of Self

Idler, Ellen L.·1995·Social Forces
DOI 10.2307/2580497
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Abstract

The relationship between religion and physical health is a complicated one. In the Durkheimian tradition, and in longitudinal epidemiological studies, religious involvement is shown to have a protective effect on health. Cross-sectionally, however, and even in short followup periods, we sometimes see higher levels of religiousness associated with poorer, not better, health, as people in the midst of crises often turn to religion for comfort and social support. A third way of thinking about the relationship involves self-ratings of health, which appear to represent broad conceptions of self in which physical health and abilities may be deemphasized and nonphysical characteristics, including religious or spiritual self-identities, may be relied upon. Quantitative and qualitative data from a cross-sectional sample of disabled clients of an urban rehabilitation clinic support both of the latter perspectives.

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  • Considering the 33 highest quality studies, 13 (39%) reported significantly better physical functioning among those who were more R/S (including one study at a trend level).

    “Considering the 33 highest quality studies, 13 (39%) reported significantly better physical functioning among those who were more R/S (including one study at a trend level) [483–495], six (18%) found worse functioning [496–501], and five studies (15%) reported mixed results [82, 124, 502–504] (significant positive and negative associations, depending on R/S characteristic).”

    From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [487]

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Authors
Idler, E. L.
Affiliations
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
Corresponding author
Idler, Ellen L.
ORCID
Idler, Ellen L.
Venue
Social Forces
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1995-12
Volume
74
Issue
2
Pages
683
ISSN
0037-7732 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.2307/2580497
OpenAlex
W2097222047
Cited by
253
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 45 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 8
FWCI
4.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Social Forces (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
Keywords
religion and health, religious involvement, self-rated health, religious coping, social support, disability, rehabilitation patients, Durkheimian tradition

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