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01-12-2012 | Original Paper

A Comparison of Religious Orientation and Health Between Whites and Hispanics

Authors: Ray M. Merrill, Patrick Steffen, Bradley D. Hunter

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 4/2012

Abstract

The study of religious orientation thus far has neglected the influence of race/ethnicity as well as all four religious orientations (intrinsic, extrinsic, pro-religious and nonreligious) in explaining differences in both physical and psychological health. A representative sample of 250 Hispanics and 236 non-Hispanic Whites in Utah was drawn and analysed for differences in health (self-rated health, life satisfaction, exercise) according to race/ethnicity, religious orientation and religious attendance. Responses to the Religious Orientation Scale differed significantly by race/ethnicity, indicating that future studies of religious orientation should take cultural context into account. For both Whites and Hispanics, pro-religious individuals reported the highest life satisfaction scores, which highlight the utility of employing the fourfold religious orientation typology.

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Title: A Comparison of Religious Orientation and Health Between Whites and Hispanics
Authors: Ray M. Merrill
Patrick Steffen
Bradley D. Hunter
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-010-9432-x

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