The Prevalence and Antecedents of Religious Beliefs About Health Control in the US Population: Variations by Race and Religious Background.
The ways in which religious beliefs influence beliefs about health have important implications for motivation to engage in positive health behaviors and comply with medical treatment. This study examines the prevalence of two health-related religious beliefs: belief in healing miracles and deferral of responsibility for health outcomes to God. Data came from a representative nationwide US survey of religion and health (N = 3010). Full-factorial ANOVA indicated that there were significant differences in both dimensions of belief by race, by religious background, and by the interaction between the two. Black people believed religion played the largest role in health regardless of religious background. Among White and Hispanic groups, Evangelical Protestants placed more responsibility for their health on God in comparison with other religious groups. ANCOVA controlling for background factors socioeconomic status, health, and religious involvement partially explained these group differences.
Department of Surgery, St. John Hospital & Medical Center, 22151 Moross Rd., PB I, Ste. 212, Detroit, MI, 48236, USA. Richard.Hayward@ascension.org.
R David
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9845-6131
RD
Hayward
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Neal
N
Krause
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA.
Kenneth
K
Pargament
D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
Denomination; Health control; Race; Religion