Using religious services to improve health: Findings from a sample of middle-aged and older adults with multiple sclerosis

Journal of Aging and Health

Volumn 19, Issue 3, 2007, Pages 537-553

  Benjamins, Maureen R ^a   Finlayson, Marcia ^b  

^a MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO   (United States)

Author keywords

Disability; Religion; Social services

Indexed keywords

ADULT; AGED; AGING; ARTICLE; FEMALE; HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL; HEALTH SERVICE; HUMAN; MAJOR CLINICAL STUDY; MALE; MIDDLE AGED; MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS; RELIGION; WELLBEING;

AGED; FEMALE; HEALTH STATUS; HEALTH SURVEYS; HUMANS; MALE; MIDDLE AGED; MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS; RELIGION; RELIGION AND MEDICINE; UNITED STATES;

EID: 34248329147     PISSN: 08982643     EISSN: 15526887     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/0898264307300972     Document Type: Article

References (41)

1. Antonack, R.F., & Livneh, H. (1995). Psychosocial adaptation to disability and its investigation among persons with multiple sclerosis. Social Science and Medicine, 40 (8). 1099-1108.
2. Benjamins, M.R., Musick, M.A., Gold, D.T., & George, L.K. (2003). Religious activities and chronic illness in an elderly population. The Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 58B (6). S377 - S385.
3. Black, D.A., Grant, C., Lapsley, H.M., & Rawson, G.K. (1994). The services and social needs of people with multiple sclerosis in New South Wales, Australia. Journal of Rehabilitation, 60, 60-65.
4. Brooks, N.A., & Matson, R.R. (1982). Social-psychological adjustment to multiple sclerosis. Social Science and Medicine, 16, 2129-2135.
5. Burks, J.S., & Johnson, K.P. (2000). Multiple sclerosis: Diagnosis, medical management, and rehabilitation. New York: Demos Medical Publishing.
6. Conway, K. (1985). Coping with the stress of medical problems among Black and White elderly. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 21, 39-48.
7. Curlin, F.A., & Moschovis, P.P. (2004). Is religious devotion relevant to the doctor-patient relationship ? Journal of Family Practice, 53 (8). 632-636.
8. Ellison, C.G. (1995). Race, religious involvement, and depressive symptomatology in a south-eastern US community. Social Science and Medicine, 40, 1561-1572.
9. Ellison, C.G., & Levin, J.S. (1998). The religion-health connection: Evidence, theory, and future directions. Health Education & Behavior, 25 (6). 700-720.
10. Ferraro, K.F., & Kelley-Moore, J.A. (2001). Religious seeking among affiliates and non-affiliates: Do mental and physical health problems spur religious coping? Review of Religious Research, 42, 229-251.
11. Gallup, G., Jr. (1997). Religion in America: Will the vitality of churches be the surprise of the next century ? U.S. Society & Values, 2 (1). 1-7.
12. Gallup Organization. (2004, June 24). Religion is "very important" to 6 in 10 Americans: Kerry has slight lead over Bush among Catholics; White Protestants favor Bush over Kerry. Princeton, NJ: Author. Retrieved June 28, 2004, from http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?CI=12115
13. Hoffman, C., Rice, D.P., & Sung, H.Y. (1996). Persons with chronic conditions: Their prevalence and costs. Journal of the American Medical Association, 276 (18). 1473-1479.
14. Hummer, R.A., Rogers, R.G., Nam, C.B., & Ellison, C.G. (1999). Religious involvement and U.S. adult mortality. Demography, 36 (2). 273-285.
15. Idler, E., & Kasl, S. (1997). Religion among disabled and nondisabled persons II: Attendance at religious services as a predictor of the course of disability. The Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 52B, 306-316.
16. Idler, E.L., Musick, M.A., Ellison, C.G., George, L.K., Krause, N., Ory, M., Pargament, K.I., Powell, L.H., Underwood, L.G., & Williams, D.R. (2003). Measuring multiple dimensions of religion and spirituality for health research. Research on Aging, 25 (4). 327-365.
17. Joy, J.E., & Johnston, R.B. (2001). Multiple sclerosis: Current status and strategies for the future. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
18. Kersten, P., McLellan, D.L., Gross-Paju, K., Grigoriadis, N., Bencivenga, R., Beneton, C., et al. (2000). A questionnaire assessment of unmet needs for rehabilitation services and resources for people with multiple sclerosis: Results of a pilot survey in five European countries. Needs Task Group of MARCH (Multiple Sclerosis and Rehabilitation, Care and Health Services Research in Europe). Clinical Rehabilitation, 14, 42-49.
19. Koch, T., Kralik, D., Eastwood, S., & Schofield, A. (2001). Breaking the silence: Women living with multiple sclerosis and urinary incontinence. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 7 (1). 16-23.
20. Koenig, H.G. (1994). Aging and God: Spiritual pathways to mental health in midlife and later years. Binghampton, NY: Haworth Pastoral Press.
21. Koenig, H.G. (1998). Religious attitudes and practices of hospitalized medically ill older adults. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 13, 213-224.
22. Koenig, H.G. (2004). Religion, spirituality, and medicine: Research findings and implications for clinical practice. Southern Medical Journal, 97 (12). 1194-1200.
23. Koenig, H.G., Cohen, H.J., Blazer, D.G., Pieper, C., Meador, K.G., Shelp, F., Goli, V., & DiPasquele, B. (1992). Religious coping and depression in elderly hospitalized medically ill men. American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 1693-1700.
24. Koenig, H.G., McCullough, M., & Larson, D. (2001). The handbook of religion and health. New York: Oxford University Press.
25. MacDonald, D.A. (2000). Spirituality: Description, measurement, and relation to the Five Factor Model of Personality. Journal of Personality, 68, 153-197.
26. Markides, K.S. (1983). Aging, religiosity, and adjustment: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Gerontology, 38 (5). 621-625.
27. Matthews, D.A., McCullough, M.E., Larson, D.B., Koenig, H.G., Swyers, J.P., & Milano, M.G. (1998). Religious commitment and health status: A review of the research and implications for family medicine. Archives of Family Medicine, 7, 118-124.
28. McCullough, M.E., Larson, D.B., Hoyt, W.T., Koenig, H.G., & Thoresen, C. (2000). Religious involvement and mortality: A meta-analytic review. Health Psychology, 19 (3). 211-222.
29. Montenegro, X.P. (2004). Spirituality and religion among Americans age 45 and older. AARP The Magazine, pp. 1-32.
30. Musick, M.A. (1996). Religion and subjective health among Black and White elders. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 37 (3). 221-237.
31. Musick, M.A., Koenig, H.G., Hays, J.C., & Cohen, H.J. (1998). Religious activity and depression among community-dwelling elderly persons with cancer: The moderating effect of race. The Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 53B (4). S218 - S227.
32. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (2004). Epidemiology. Retrieved August 23, 2004, from http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Sourcebook-Epidemiology. asp
33. Nayak, S., Matheis, R.J., Schoenberger, N.E., & Shiflett, S.C. (2003). Use of unconventional therapies by individuals with multiple sclerosis. Clinical Rehabilitation, 17, 181-191.
34. Princeton Religion Research Center. (1994). Importance of religion climbing again. PRRC Emerging Trends, 16 (1). 1-4.
35. Religion in America. (1987). The Gallup Report, p. 259.
36. Saudia, T.L., Kinney, M.R., Brown, K.C., & Young-Ward, L. (1991). Health locus of control and helpfulness of prayer. Heart & Lung, 20, 60-65.
37. Schwid, S.R., Goodman, A.D., Mattson, D.H., Mihai, C., Donohoe, K.M., Petrie, M.D., Scheid, E.A., Dudman, J.T., & McDermott, M.P. (1997). The measurement of ambulatory impairment in multiple sclerosis. Neurology, 49 (5). 1419-1424.
38. Sloan, R.P., Bagiella, E., & Powell, T. (1999). Religion, spirituality, and medicine. The Lancet, 353 (9153). 664-667.
39. Taylor, R.J., & Chatters, L.M. (1986). Church-based informal support among elderly Blacks. The Gerontologist, 26, 637-642.
40. Weinshenker, B. (1995). The natural history of multiple sclerosis. Neurologic Clinics of North America, 13 (1). 119-146.
41. Wolff, J.L., Starfield, B., & Anderson, G. (2002). Prevalence, expenditures, and complications of multiple chronic conditions in the elderly. Archives of Internal Medicine, 162, 2269-2276.