Da Lone-Warrior
May 29th 2005, 05:06 PM
Check out the following fact sheet (http://www.rmfc.org/fs/fs0053.html) that is based on studies by the psychologist Daniel Larson.
New research demonstrates that religion is good for your health. For example, in 1987 University of Texas researchers "carefully examined 27 studies on church attendance and health." 4 Their analysis revealed that in all but seven studies, "frequent church attenders were healthier as a group than less frequent attenders." In fact, researchers went so far as to suggest that "infrequent religious attendance should be regarded as a consistent risk factor for morbidity and mortality of various types." Researcher David Larson, in a study on men's blood pressure, found that "even smokers benefited from religion." 5 Larson found that smokers who were not religious "were seven times more likely to have abnormal... [blood]... pressure than those who said [religion] was important." "In fact, smokers who attended church had the same blood pressure as non-smokers who did not." These findings led Larson to the conclusion that "if you're going to smoke, make sure you go to church."
Research shows that "there are... indications that religion can help you recover from serious injury ." Researchers looked at the recovery process of elderly women who had suffered from broken hips, and found that "elderly women who were religiously committed were less depressed, had shorter hospital stays and could walk farther at the time of their discharge than those who were not." 6 Furthermore, studies show that "people who [do] not attend church [are] four times more likely to commit suicide than frequent church attenders." 7 Wayne State University researcher Steven Stack "found that the rate of church non-attendance predicted suicide rates better than any other factor-- including unemployment." 8 As might be expected, "other studies have shown that religious people seem to experience fewer suicidal impulses and ... view suicide as less acceptable than non-religious people."
interesting stuff...
I wonder if they've done any follow up studies that delve further than just religiosity(as in Church attendance).
dlw
New research demonstrates that religion is good for your health. For example, in 1987 University of Texas researchers "carefully examined 27 studies on church attendance and health." 4 Their analysis revealed that in all but seven studies, "frequent church attenders were healthier as a group than less frequent attenders." In fact, researchers went so far as to suggest that "infrequent religious attendance should be regarded as a consistent risk factor for morbidity and mortality of various types." Researcher David Larson, in a study on men's blood pressure, found that "even smokers benefited from religion." 5 Larson found that smokers who were not religious "were seven times more likely to have abnormal... [blood]... pressure than those who said [religion] was important." "In fact, smokers who attended church had the same blood pressure as non-smokers who did not." These findings led Larson to the conclusion that "if you're going to smoke, make sure you go to church."
Research shows that "there are... indications that religion can help you recover from serious injury ." Researchers looked at the recovery process of elderly women who had suffered from broken hips, and found that "elderly women who were religiously committed were less depressed, had shorter hospital stays and could walk farther at the time of their discharge than those who were not." 6 Furthermore, studies show that "people who [do] not attend church [are] four times more likely to commit suicide than frequent church attenders." 7 Wayne State University researcher Steven Stack "found that the rate of church non-attendance predicted suicide rates better than any other factor-- including unemployment." 8 As might be expected, "other studies have shown that religious people seem to experience fewer suicidal impulses and ... view suicide as less acceptable than non-religious people."
interesting stuff...
I wonder if they've done any follow up studies that delve further than just religiosity(as in Church attendance).
dlw