Koenig H G
Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 1998 Apr;13(4):213-24. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199804)13:4<213::aid-gps755>3.0.co;2-5.
To examine the prevalence of religious beliefs and practices among medically ill hospitalized older adults and relate them to social, psychological and health characteristics.
Consecutive patients age 60 or over admitted to the general medicine cardiology and neurology services of Duke University Medical Center were evaluated for participation in a depression study. As part of the evaluation, information on religious affiliation, religious attendance, private religious activities, intrinsic religiosity and religious coping was collected. Demographic, social, psychological and physical health characteristics were also assessed. Bivariate and multivariate correlates of religious belief and activity were examined using Pearson correlation and linear regression.
Of the 542 patients evaluated, detailed information on religious beliefs and behaviors was collected on 455 cognitively unimpaired patients. Over one-half (53.4%) of the sample reported attending religious services once per week or more often; 58.7% prayed or studied the Bible daily or more often; over 85% of patients held intrinsic religious attitudes; and over 40% spontaneously reported that their religious faith was the most important factor that enabled them to cope. Religious variables were consistently and independently related to race (Black), lower education, higher social support and greater life stressors, and religious attendance was associated with less medical illness burden. Religious attendance was also related to lower depressive symptoms, although the association weakened when other covariates were controlled.
Religious practices, attitudes and coping behaviors are prevalent among hospitalized medically ill older adults and are related to social, psychological and physical health outcomes. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.
研究患有疾病的住院老年患者的宗教信仰及宗教活动情况，并探讨其与社会、心理和健康特征之间的关系。
连续入选杜克大学医学中心普通内科、心脏科及神经科服务部门收治的60岁及以上患者，对其进行抑郁症研究评估。作为评估的一部分，收集了有关宗教归属、宗教活动参与情况、个人宗教活动、内在宗教信仰及宗教应对方式的信息。同时评估了人口统计学、社会、心理和身体健康特征。使用Pearson相关性分析和线性回归分析宗教信仰和活动的双变量及多变量相关性。
在接受评估的542名患者中，收集了455名认知功能未受损患者的宗教信仰和行为详细信息。超过一半（53.4%）的样本报告每周参加一次或更频繁的宗教仪式；58.7%的人每天或更频繁地祈祷或研读《圣经》；超过85%的患者持有内在宗教态度；超过40%的患者自发表示他们的宗教信仰是使他们能够应对的最重要因素。宗教变量与种族（黑人）、低教育程度、较高的社会支持和更大的生活压力源始终且独立相关，参加宗教活动与较轻的疾病负担相关。参加宗教活动还与较低的抑郁症状相关，尽管在控制其他协变量时这种关联减弱。
宗教活动、态度和应对行为在患有疾病的住院老年患者中普遍存在，并且与社会、心理和身体健康结果相关。讨论了对临床实践的启示。
