Journal of Religion & Health最新文献

Socioeconomic status and religion are associated with health indicators. This study compared the correlations between religious observance, socioeconomic status, and select health indicators among adults in neighboring cities in Israel based on data collected from the Maccabi Health Services database. One city is characterized by religious observance, while the other is primarily secular. Lower smoking rates and higher rates of low cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels were observed in the religious city. No significant differences were found for low HDL rates or diabetes. Unique characteristics of populations must be considered when planning health interventions.

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to determine the effect of listening to Surah Maryam during the first stage of labor on postpartum depression, traumatic childbirth perception, and post-traumatic stress. Women in the Surah Maryam group (SMG) listened to Surah Maryam during the first stage of labor. Following the intervention, both groups were assessed using scales measuring the perception of traumatic childbirth, postpartum depression, and post-traumatic stress. Logistic regression analysis showed no statistically significant differences between the SMG and control group (CG) in terms of traumatic childbirth perception or postpartum depression following the intervention. However, listening to Surah Maryam was found to reduce post-traumatic stress in the SMG by 93% compared to the CG (OR = 0.070, 95% CI 0.017-0.286). Women should be allowed to perform spiritual practices according to their preferences during childbirth to ensure a positive childbirth experience and better mental health during the postpartum period.

Antisemitism has been rising for decades and worsened following the events of Oct 7, 2023. Although anecdotal evidence suggests that these trends extend into the US medical community, quantitative data have been lacking. To address this gap, we quantitated publications about antisemitism, analyzed social media posts from the accounts of 220,405 healthcare professionals, and disseminated a survey to members of Jewish medical associations. Publications and social media posts about antisemitism rose > fivefold, while posts promoting antisemitic stereotypes increased 2-fourfold. Most Jewish-identifying medical students and professionals (75.4%) reported exposure to antisemitism. Together, our results suggest that antisemitism is escalating within the US healthcare community.

The most common reason for mothers' request for a cesarean section is fear of childbirth. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between spiritual health and anxiety and fear of childbirth in pregnant women. This correlational cross-sectional study was performed on 426 pregnant women who were referred to Yahyanejad Hospital in Babol, Iran, during 2018-2021. These pregnant women were hospitalized in the maternity ward for vaginal delivery. Convenience sampling bases on inclusion criteria were done to select the subjects. The questionnaires used in this study included Demographic and Obstetric Questionnaire, Anxiety and Fear of Childbirth Questionnaire by Pirdel et al., and Palutzian & Ellison Spiritual Well-being Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 using descriptive and analytical indicators and linear and multiple correlation tests. The results of the study showed that all pregnant women experienced moderate (23.1) or severe (76.9) fear and anxiety, and none of the women had low fear and anxiety. Moreover, all women in this study had moderate (50.5) or high (49.5) spiritual health. The results of linear regression test showed that there is a significant and inverse relationship between spiritual health and anxiety and fear of childbirth (R: - 0.12, CI - 0.14, - 0.019, P = 0.011). Furthermore, the results of multivariate linear regression test after adjustments for intervening demographic and midwifery variables showed a significant relationship between spiritual health (R: - 0.12, CI - 0.14, - 0.02, P = 0.009), education level and number of pregnancies, and anxiety and fear of childbirth. The results of the study showed that with the increase in spiritual health, anxiety and fear of childbirth decreases. Therefore, it can be inferred that women need spiritual care in addition to medical care to deal with fear and anxiety during pregnancy and childbirth.

The aim of this systematic mixed studies review was to examine how social networks influence physical activity and dietary patterns among African American women. We searched PUBMED, CINAHL, JSTOR, SocioIndex, Medline, Cochrane Library, sportDISCUS, and PsycINFO to review articles published between Jan 1, 2007, and July 1, 2021. Only 23 studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies were conducted in the US. Social support received from family members, friends, and churches was found to positively influence physical activity and/or dietary patterns among African American women. An inconsistent relationship was found between social network size, health behavior characteristics of social networks, and physical activity and/or dietary patterns among African American women. Future research should incorporate structural and functional social network strategies to promote physical activity and healthy eating behaviors effectively and sustainably among African American women.

This issue commences with a review of the top 100 most cited papers in the Journal of Religion and Health. This is followed by Part 2 of a series examining Judaism and health related research, which is subsequently followed by an extensive collection of research specifically connected to women's health. Finally, research continues to present the unique and ongoing effects of COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, synagogues faced closure, and many non-Orthodox communities transitioned their prayer services to online platforms. This presented a significant challenge for community leaders and rabbis who were faced with a profound community crisis. An innovative response emerged including new prayers and the adaptation of existing ones to better address the pandemic's unique realities, integrating aspects of health, divinity, community, and the environment. This study engages in a textual analysis of these prayers, exploring how these mirror cultural and social attitudes toward the body and embodiment. While the body was seen during the COVID-19 period as problematic, an object of contagion and spreader of disease (e.g., by not keeping proper distance or masking), in these particular texts it is no longer slandered, but revealed as an obedient and disciplined agent. The prayers seek to overcome the disruption in the individual's relationship with their body and with other bodies. The prayer authors propose to the worshipper, while also conceptually changing traditional ideas and practices, to view the body as an object that must be cleaned, vaccinated, purified, and allowed to continue its function. The concern for both the well-being of the living body and the dignity of the deceased extends to care for society and humanity as a whole. Therefore, this liturgy can be seen as a pragmatic means to promote a "theology of humanistic responsibility."

This cross-sectional study examined the role of mindful parenting in the association between spiritual well-being and positive parenting behaviors among mothers of typically developing children. The sample comprised 381 mothers of children aged 4-17 years. We collected the data using the Three-Factor Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS-3), the Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire (MIPQ), and the Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale (MAPS). We tailored our analysis through the subscales of the SWBS-3 (transcendence, harmony with nature, and anomie) to control the contamination effects of other psychological constructs (e.g., meaning and connectedness) on the measurement of spiritual well-being. The correlation analysis yielded significant results, indicating a relationship between the SWBS-3 subscales and mothers' mindful parenting skills (i.e., being in the moment with the child and mindful discipline) and positive parenting practices. Moreover, the mediating effect analysis revealed that mindful parenting skills assumed diverse roles in the relationship between transcendence, harmony with nature, and anomie and positive parenting practices. The findings were then addressed in the context of the existing literature.

The association between female sexual pain (FSP) and various aspects of physical, psychological, and sexual well-being is well-documented in the research literature. Multiple studies have reported a link between FSP and depressive symptoms. This study aimed to examine the possible moderating effect of religiousness on the FSP-depression association among a non-clinical population. A sample of 163 adult Israeli Jewish women in heterosexual marriages, all identifying as religious, responded to an online questionnaire including measures of genito-pelvic pain, depression, and two aspects of religiousness-religious behavior and religious fundamentalism. Male partners also assessed sexual pain and depressive symptoms of the women participating in the study. As predicted, female sexual pain was significantly associated with depression both for the self-assessment and for the partner assessment of these variables. In addition, moderation analysis indicated that religious behavior moderated the relation between FSP and depression for both types of assessments. Similarly, religious fundamentalism moderated the association between FSP and depression for the partner assessments but not for the self-assessments. However, whereas religiousness was predicted to buffer this association, interaction probing indicated that at higher levels of religiousness, the positive association between FSP and depression was significant, whereas when religiousness was lower, this association was not significant.