title: The distinct roles of spirituality and religiosity in physical and mental health after collective trauma: a national longitudinal study of responses to the 9/11 attacks.
abstract: Researchers have identified health implications of religiosity and spirituality but have rarely addressed differences between these dimensions. The associations of religiosity and spirituality with physical and mental health were examined in a national sample (N = 890) after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks (9/11). Health information was collected before 9/11 and health, religiosity, and spirituality were assessed longitudinally during six waves of data collection over the next 3 years. Religiosity (i.e., participation in religious social structures) predicted higher positive affect (β = .12), fewer cognitive intrusions (β = -.07), and lower odds of new onset mental (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = .88) and musculoskeletal (IRR = .94) ailments. Spirituality (i.e., subjective commitment to spiritual or religious beliefs) predicted higher positive affect (β = .09), lower odds of new onset infectious ailments (IRR = 0.83), more intrusions (β = .10) and a more rapid decline in intrusions over time (β = -.10). Religiosity and spirituality independently predict health after a collective trauma, controlling for pre-event health status; they are not interchangeable indices of religion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA. daniel.mcintosh@du.edu
authors.forename: Daniel N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Poulin
authors.forename: Roxane Cohen
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Silver
authors.forename: E Alison
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Holman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks / Q000523:psychology*; D029181:Spirituality