Religiosity, Sense of Meaning, and Health Behavior in Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between older adults' religiosity, sense of meaning in life, and health behavior. Three dimensions of religiosity were assessed: religious orientation (intrinsic and extrinsic), sanctification of the body, and relationship with God. Five health behaviors were measured: smoking, exercise, taking responsibility for one's own health, nutritious eating, and stress management. In general, stronger religiosity and sense of meaning were associated with healthier behaviors; however, extrinsic religious orientation was associated with decreased rates of healthy behavior. In regression analyses that controlled for service attendance, sex, age, and education, sense of meaning in life was the construct most consistently related to health behavior. Results support a model in which religion and sense of meaning affect health by motivating certain behaviors that are then tied directly to overall physical health.