Top

Published in:

01-04-2016 | Original Paper

Exploring the Relationship of Religiosity, Religious Support, and Social Support Among African American Women in a Physical Activity Intervention Program

Authors: Idethia Shevon Harvey, Chandra R. Story, Douglas Knutson, Melicia C. Whitt-Glover

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 2/2016

Abstract

Religious belief has been linked to a variety of positive mental and physical health outcomes. This exploratory study will address the relationship between religious involvement and social connectedness among African American women. Results from a physical activity intervention research project (N = 465) found that total religious support and social support were significantly negatively correlated with total religiosity, while total general social support was significantly positively correlated with total religious support. Overall, the study indicates that more research is needed on ways to encourage interaction between the positive dimensions of both religiosity and social support to bring about healthy behaviors.

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman.

Baranowski, T., Perry, C. L., & Parcel, G. S. (1997). How individuals, environments, and health behavior interact: Social cognitive theory. In K. Glanz, F. M. Lewis, & B. K. Rimer (Eds.), Health behavior and health education: Theory, research and practice (2nd ed., pp. 153–178). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Caldwell, C. H., Greene, A. D., & Billingsley, A. (1992). The black church as a family support system: Instrumental and expressive functions. National Journal of Sociology, 6(1), 21–40.

Callaghan, P., & Morrissey, J. (1993). Social support and health: A review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 18(2), 203–210. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.1993.18020203.x.CrossRefPubMed

Chatters, L. M., Levin, J. S., & Ellison, C. G. (1998). Public health and health education in faith communities. Health Education & Behavior, 25(6), 689–699. doi:10.1177/109019819802500602.CrossRef

Chaves, M., & Higgins, L. M. (1992). Comparing the community involvement of black and white congregations. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 31(4), 425–440.CrossRef

Cochran, J. K., Beeghley, L., & Bock, E. W. (1988). Religiosity and alcohol behavior: An exploration of reference group theory. Sociological Forum, 3(2), 256–276.CrossRef

Cohen, S., & Syme, S. L. (Eds.). (1985). Social support and health. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.

Cutrona, C. E., & Russell, D. W. (1987). The provisions of social relationships and adaptation to stress. In W. H. Jones & D. Perlman (Eds.), Advances in personal relationships (pp. 37–67). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

Cutrona, C. E., Russell, D., & Rose, J. (1986). Social support and adaptation to stress by the elderly. Psychology and Aging, 1(1), 47–54.CrossRefPubMed

Ellison, C. G., & George, L. K. (1994). Religious involvement, social ties, and social support in a southern community. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 33(1), 46–61.CrossRef

Ellison, C. G., & Levin, J. S. (1998). The religion–health connection: Evidence, theory, and future directions. Health Education & Behavior, 25(6), 700–720. doi:10.1177/109019819802500603.CrossRef

Eyler, A. A., Brownson, R. C., Donatelle, R. J., King, A. C., Brown, D., & Sallis, J. F. (1999). Physical activity social support and middle- and older-aged minority women: Results from a U.S. survey. Social Science and Medicine, 49(6), 781–789.CrossRefPubMed

Fetzer Institute Publication. (1999). Multidimensional measurement of religiousness/spirituality for use in health research. Kalamazoo, MI: Fetzer Institute Publication.

Fischer, J., & Corcoran, K. (2007). Measures for clinical practice: A sourcebook volume 2 adults (4th ed). New York: Oxford University Press.

Flegal, K. M., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Ogden, C. L. (2012). Prevalence of obesity and trends in the distribution of body mass index among U.S. adults, 1999–2010. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 307(5), 491–497. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.39.CrossRefPubMed

Gottlieb, B. H., & Bergen, A. E. (2010). Social support concepts and measures. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 69(5), 511–520. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.10.001.CrossRefPubMed

Hill, P. C., & Pargament, K. I. (2008). Advances in the conceptualization and measurement of religion and spirituality: Implications for physical and mental health research. Psychology of Religion & Spirituality, S(1), 3–17. doi:10.1037/1941-1022.S.1.3.CrossRef

Hill, P. C., Pargament, K. I., Hood, R. W., McCullough, M. E., Swyers, J. P., Larson, D. B., & Zinnbauer, B. J. (2000). Conceptualizing religion and spirituality: Points of commonality, points of departure. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 30(1), 51–77.CrossRef

Holt, C. L., Schulz, E., & Wynn, T. A. (2009). Perceptions of the religion: Health connection among African Americans in the Southeastern United States: Sex, age, and urban/rural differences. Health Education & Behavior, 36(1), 62–80. doi:10.1177/1090198107303314.CrossRef

Holt, C. L., Wang, M. Q., Clark, E. M., Williams, B. R., & Schulz, E. (2013a). Religious involvement and physical and emotional functioning among African Americans: The mediating role of religious support. Psychology & Health, 28(3), 267–283.CrossRef

Holt, C. L., Wang, M. Q., Clark, E. M., Williams, B. R., & Schulz, E. (2013b). Religious involvement and physical and emotional functioning among African Americans: The mediating role of religious support. Psychology & Health, 28(3), 267–283. doi:10.1080/08870446.2012.717624.CrossRef

House, J. S. (1981). Work, stress, and social support. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

Israel, B. A. (1982). Social networks and health status: Linking theory, research, and practice. Patient Counselling and Health Education, 4(2), 65–79.CrossRefPubMed

Kahn, E. B., Ramsey, L. T., Brownson, R. C., Heath, G. W., Howze, E. H., Powell, K. E., et al. (2002). The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity: A systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 22(4 (Supplement 1)), 73–107.CrossRefPubMed

Kanu, M., Baker, E., & Brownson, R. C. (2008). Exploring associations between church-based social support and physical activity. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 5(4), 504–515.

Koenig, H. G., King, D. E., & Carson, V. B. (2012). Handbook of religion and health (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford Press University.

Krause, N. M. (1995). Negative interaction and satisfaction with social support among older adults. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 50B(2), P59–P73. doi:10.1093/geronb/50B.2.P59.CrossRef

Krause, N. M. (1997). Anticipated support, received support, and economic stress among older adults. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 52B(6), P284–P293. doi:10.1093/geronb/52B.6.P284.CrossRef

Krause, N. M. (1999). Assessing change in social support during late life. Research on Aging, 21(4), 539.CrossRef

Krause, N. M., Ellison, C. G., Shaw, B. A., Marcum, J. R., & Boardman, J. D. (2001). Church-based social support and religious coping. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 40(4), 637–656.CrossRef

Levin, J. S. (1994). Religion and health: Is there an association, is it valid, and is it causal? Social Science and Medicine, 38(11), 1475–1482. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(94)90109-0.CrossRefPubMed

Levin, J. S. (1996). How religion influences morbidity and health: Reflections on natural history, salutogenesis and host resistance. Social Science and Medicine, 43(5), 849–864.CrossRefPubMed

Liang, J. (1990). The national survey of Japenese. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute of Gerontology.

Lincoln, K. D., Chatters, L. M., & Taylor, R. J. (2003). Psychological distress among black and white Americans: Differential effects of social support, negative interaction and personal control. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 44(3), 390–407.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Lincoln, C. E., & Mamiya, L. H. (1990). The black church in the African American experience. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.CrossRef

Malka, A., Soto, C. J., Cohen, A. B., & Miller, D. T. (2011). Religiosity and social welfare: Competing influences of cultural conservatism and prosocial value orientation. Journal of Personality, 79(4), 763–792. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2011.00705.x.CrossRefPubMed

McCullough, M. E., Hoyt, W. T., Larson, D. B., Koenig, H. G., & Thoresen, C. E. (2000). Religious involvement and mortality: A meta-analytic review. Health Psychology, 19(3), 211–222. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.19.3.211.CrossRefPubMed

National Institute on Aging. (2009). Your everyday guide from the National Institute on Aging: Exercise and physical activity. Washington, DC: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Human and Health Services. No 09-4258.

Nieminen, T., Prättälä, R., Martelin, T., Härkänen, T., Hyyppä, M. T., Alanen, E., & Koskinen, S. (2013). Social capital, health behaviours and health: A population-based associational study. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 613–624. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-613.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Oman, D., & Thoresen, C. E. (2002). Does religion cause health? Differing interpretations and diverse meanings. Journal of Health Psychology, 7(4), 365–380. doi:10.1177/1359105302007004326.CrossRefPubMed

Otto, R. (1958). The idea of the holy. London: Oxford University Press.

Pierce, G. R., Sarason, I. G., & Sarason, B. R. (1991). General and relationship-based perceptions of social support: Are two constructs better than one? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(6), 1028–1039. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.61.6.1028.CrossRefPubMed

Powell, L. H., Shahabi, L., & Thoresen, C. E. (2003). Religion and spirituality: Linkages to physical health. American Psychologist, 58(1), 36–52. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.58.1.36.CrossRefPubMed

Sahgal, N., & Smith, G. (2009). A religious portrait of African Americans. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.

Sarason, B. R., Shearin, E. N., Pierce, G. R., & Sarason, I. G. (1987). Interrelations of social support measures: Theoretical and practical implications. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(4), 813–832. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.52.4.813.CrossRef

Stokols, D. (1996). Translating social ecological theory into guidelines for community health promotion. American Journal of Health Promotion, 10(4), 282–298.CrossRefPubMed

Strawbridge, W. J., Cohen, R. D., Shema, S. J., & Kaplan, G. A. (1997). Frequent attendance at religious services and mortality over 28 years. American Journal of Public Health, 87(6), 957–961. doi:10.2105/AJPH.87.6.957.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Strawbridge, W. J., Shema, S. J., Cohen, R. D., & Kaplan, G. A. (2001). Religious attendance increases survival by improving and maintaining good health behaviors, mental health, and social relationships. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 23, 68–74.CrossRefPubMed

Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (1988). Church members as a source of informal social support. Review of Religious Research, 30(2), 193–203.CrossRef

Uchino, B. N. (2006). Social support and health: A review of physiological processes potentially underlying links to disease outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 29(4), 377–387. doi:10.1007/s10865-006-9056-5.CrossRefPubMed

Uchino, B. N. (2013). Understanding the links between social ties and health: On building stronger bridges with relationship science. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 30(2), 155–162. doi:10.1177/0265407512458659.CrossRef

Welch, M. R., Sikkink, D., Sartain, E., & Bond, C. (2004). Trust in God and trust in man: The ambivalent role of religion in shaping dimensions of social trust. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 43(3), 317–343. doi:10.1111/j.1468-5906.2004.00238.x.CrossRef

Whitt-Glover, M. C., Goldmon, M. V., Karanja, N., Heil, D. P., & Gizlice, Z. (2012). Learning and developing individual exercise skills (LADIES) for a better life: A physical activity intervention for black women. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 33(6), 1159–1171. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2012.08.003.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Whitt-Glover, M. C., & Kumanyika, S. K. (2009). Systematic review of interventions to increase physical activity and physical fitness in African-Americans. American Journal of Health Promotion, 23(6), S33–S56. doi:10.4278/ajhp.070924101.CrossRefPubMed

Whitt-Glover, M. C., Taylor, W. C., Heath, G. W., & Macera, C. A. (2007). Self-reported physical activity among blacks: Estimates from national surveys. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 33(5), 412–417. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2007.07.024.CrossRefPubMed

Williams, D. R., Larson, D. B., Buckler, R. E., Heckmann, R. C., & Pyle, C. M. (1991). Religion and psychological distress in a community sample. Social Science and Medicine, 32(11), 1257–1262.CrossRefPubMed

Winemiller, D. R., Mitchell, M. E., Sutliff, J., & Cline, D. I. (1993). Measurement strategies in social support: A descriptive review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 49(5), 638–648.CrossRefPubMed

Yanek, L. R., Becker, D. M., Moy, T. F., Gittelsohn, J., & Koffman, D. M. (2001). Project Joy: Faith-based cardiovascular health promotion for African American women. Public Health Reports, 116(suppl 1), 68–81.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Title: Exploring the Relationship of Religiosity, Religious Support, and Social Support Among African American Women in a Physical Activity Intervention Program
Authors: Idethia Shevon Harvey
Chandra R. Story
Douglas Knutson
Melicia C. Whitt-Glover
Publication date: 01-04-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-015-0017-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Exploring the Relationship of Religiosity, Religious Support, and Social Support Among African American Women in a Physical Activity Intervention Program

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2016

Religious Social Support and Hypertension Among Older North American Seventh-Day Adventists

Understanding the Irony: Canadian Gay Men Living with HIV/AIDS, Their Catholic Devotion, and Greater Well-being

Technology in Muslim Moral Philosophy

Predictors of Physician Recommendation for Ethically Controversial Medical Procedures: Findings from an Exploratory National Survey of American Muslim Physicians

Factor Structure of the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality in US and Indian Samples with Traumatic Brain Injury

The Challenges of Conscientious Objection in Health care