title: Association of strength of religious adherence to quality of life measures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate, in a mid-west, religiously conservative church-population, the impact upon a subject's Biblically based depth of religious adherence on quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey evaluating self-reported adherence to basic activities and knowledge of faith and perceived well-being. Subjects were divided into 'adherent' or 'less-adherent' and these groups were used to analyze differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 303 included subjects we found differences between adherent and less-adherent groups in each of 7 questions (P ≤ 0.01). The strongest separation between groups resulted from: if they met the needs of another Christian, studied the Holy Scriptures or praised God.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Religious adherence may promote a sense of well-being in those who profess Christian faith.
authors.affiliation: Grace Community Church, Bartlesville, OK, United States; Veritas Worldview Institute, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Bartlesville, OK, United States.
authors.forename: W Rod
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Macilvaine
authors.forename: Lindsay A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Jeanette A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001633:Bible; D002835:Christianity; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adherence; Participation; Religion; Spirituality; Well-being