engleski

Religion and Health Connection: Religious Community as a Social Resource

In the last 40-50 years there is a significant increase in the research that addresses the relationship between religion and health. Given the multi-dimensionality of the research object, sciences dealing with health, social sciences and behavioural sciences are trying to systematically explore religiosity (religious involvement/engagement) and health (physical and mental). In that context, this is the main research objective in this work, but with a specific aim to explore to what extent and how this relationship is mediated through affiliation and involvement in certain religious communities. Therefore, a survey was conducted in six Christian religious communities (Baptist Union of Religious Communities, Evangelical Pentecostal Church, Full Gospel Church, Word of Life Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Seventh-day Adventist Church) and one non-Christian community (Hindu religious organization) in Croatia. In order to see whether there is a difference in personal health (health behaviour and health status) among members of religious communities, in addition data from the International Social Survey Programme module "Health" was used. Analysis of correlates of personal health showed the extent to which health responsible behaviour and better health condition for members of communities are mediated through resources that religious community can offer to its member. Dimensions of religious communities as social resources appear to be significant correlates of personal health primarily through the formation of mechanisms of social support and social capital. It should be noted that the analysis showed that this mediation in the relationship between religiosity and health increases through the strictness of the community in the rules relating to the everyday life practice, which are shaped within religious traditions of specific communities.

religion-health connection; religious community; social resource

nije evidentirano