The key to a long, healthy life? Go to church!
FREE Catholic Classes
Researchers looking at data of nearly 75,000 middle-aged women nurses in the United States and discovered something wonderful!
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
5/17/2016 (8 years ago)
Published in Health
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Nurses' Health Study, had the thousands of participants answer several questions, including whether they attended religious services regularly between 1992 and 2012.
Researchers discovered a 33 percent lower risk of death in women who claimed they regularly attended religious services than women who did not.
Women who attended church once a week or less often had a 26 percent lower risk of death and women who did not attend church at all were discovered to have a 13 percent lower risk.
As Catholics, it should come as no surprise to hear that the researchers discovered other health benefits as well, such as social support, optimism, lower rates of depression and a smaller chance of self-harming activities such as smoking.
According to CBS Philly, researchers were able to understand what many believers already know - that regular church attendance promotes self-discipline and increased senses of purpose in life.
Tyler J. VanderWeele, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, explained, "Our study suggests that for health, the benefits outweigh the potentially negative effects" such as anxiety, guilt or intolerance.
The majority of the women participating were Catholic or Protestant, leaving researchers unsure about other religious service attendance, such as other Christian religions and denominations, Judaism or Islam.
Men were not studied, leaving researchers incapable of knowing for certain that service attendance promotes physical and mental health in both sexes, but previous studies suggest it does.
"There have been literally thousands of studies" concerning the link between religion and health, Dr. Dan German Blazer II, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University Medical Center, explained.
Of the thousands of studies, certain aspects such as prayer, levels of spirituality, reading the Bible or other religious texts remain inconclusive but do indicate an improved longevity.
"The one (aspect) that is significantly more predictive of good health is about religious service attendance," Blazer stated.
Blazer explained how most people think they are spiritual, but the level of spirituality - as well as the optimum level of spirituality - is difficult to accurately measure. Dr. Blazer claimed, "You have a more integrated life in this sense," but any and all positive results remain speculative.
Though the study revealed positive links between regular religious attendance, Dr. Blazer warned: "This study does not suggest that clinicians prescribe attending religious services as a way to be more healthy."
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
As seen in his comment, scientists continue to struggle to understand the positive relationship between the effects of religion - perhaps more specifically, the inclusion of God in people's personal lives - and the scientific evidence of longevity and health.
Blazer admitted the study suggests patients who know their doctor extremely well might benefit from encouragement to become more active in their religious institutions.
"[C]linicians who know their patients well and follow them over a period of time, like primary care doctors, inquire when it is appropriate about their religious beliefs and practices" to help ensure the patient maintains a healthy relationship with their church, temples or mosque.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Ray Dalio Warns of Potential Civil War, Advises Moving Assets Abroad
-
Understanding Pentecost: A Celebration of the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Tradition
-
Did you know the Catholic Church has a birthday?
-
Catholic Bishops Call for Civil Dialogue Amid Church Polarization
-
Pope Francis Emphasizes Charity as the Pinnacle of Christian Love
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Sunday, May 19, 2024
- St. Celestine: Saint of the Day for Sunday, May 19, 2024
- Prayer to St. Gabriel, for Others: Prayer of the Day for Friday, May 10, 2024
- Daily Readings for Saturday, May 18, 2024
- St. Pope John I: Saint of the Day for Saturday, May 18, 2024
- Prayer for Travelers: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, May 09, 2024
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.