Biobehavioral Pathways That Mediate the Effects of Spirituality and Religion on Health
by Patrick McNamara, PhD 3 CE Credits
Description:
Religiosity can, in selected individuals, be associated with both positive and negative health benefits. For example, while data suggest that regular attendance at religious services appears to confer a significant health protective and longevity effect on otherwise healthy individuals, negative or punishing images of God are often associated with negative health outcomes. Health professionals who inevitably interact with patients who describe themselves as religious will benefit from some acquaintance with current models of religion’s impact on health. This course will review and critically evaluate those theoretical models that are best supported by the empirical evidence. In addition, guidelines to ethically discuss health-related effects of spirituality and religious coping strategies with patients who identify themselves as religious will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
After completing this course, health professionals will be able to:
- Articulate two prominent themes that emerge from current biobehavioral studies of religion’s effects on health.
- Identify one proven biobehavioral pathway that mediates religion’s effects on health including effects that enhance health outcomes and effects that impede health-related outcomes.
- Indicate at least three available assessment tools to measure religiosity/spirituality in patients.
- Recognize two potential barriers/facilitators to discussing the health-related effects of spirituality and religious coping strategies with patients in the medical context.
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