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Is religion therapeutically significant for hypertension?

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  • Levin, Jeffrey S.
  • Vanderpool, Harold Y.

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies of the effects of religion on blood pressure suggest that religious commitment is inversely associated with blood pressure and that several religious denominations or groups have relatively low rates of hypertension-related morbidity and mortality. In this review, we examine the implication that certain characteristics and functions of religion account for this association, and we posit 12 possible explanations for this finding. We propose that a salutary effect of religion on blood pressure can be explained by some combination of the following correlates or sequelae of religion: the promotion of health-related behavior; hereditary predispositions in particular groups; the healthful psychosocial effects of religious practice; and, the beneficial psychodynamics of belief systems, religious rites, and faith. Since past epidemiologic studies may have been methodologically limited or flawed, possible explanations for the findings of these studies also include epistemological confusion, measurement problems, and analytical errors. Finally, for the sake of completeness, two more speculative hypotheses are identified: superempirical and supernatural influences or pathways.

Suggested Citation

  • Levin, Jeffrey S. & Vanderpool, Harold Y., 1989. "Is religion therapeutically significant for hypertension?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 69-78, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:29:y:1989:i:1:p:69-78
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Neeleman & Glyn Lewis, 1994. "Religious Identity and Comfort Beliefs in Three Groups of Psychiatric Patients and a Group of Medical Controls," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 40(2), pages 124-134, June.
    2. Schultz, Jennifer & O'Brien, A. Maureen & Tadesse, Bedassa, 2008. "Social capital and self-rated health: Results from the US 2006 social capital survey of one community," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 606-617, August.
    3. Irena Papadopoulos & Runa Lazzarino & Christina Koulouglioti & Sheila Ali & Steve Wright, 2022. "Towards a national strategy for the provision of spiritual care during major health disasters: A qualitative study," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(4), pages 1990-2006, July.
    4. Buck, Anna C. & Williams, David R. & Musick, Marc A. & Sternthal, Michelle J., 2009. "An examination of the relationship between multiple dimensions of religiosity, blood pressure, and hypertension," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(2), pages 314-322, January.
    5. Robert Hummer & Richard Rogers & Charles Nam & Christopher Ellison, 1999. "Religious involvement and U.S. adult mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 36(2), pages 273-285, May.
    6. Holt, Cheryl L. & Roth, David L. & Huang, Jin & Park, Crystal L. & Clark, Eddie M., 2017. "Longitudinal effects of religious involvement on religious coping and health behaviors in a national sample of African Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 11-19.

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