Faith Moves Mountains-Mountains Move Faith: Two Opposite Epidemiological Forces in Research on Religion and Health

N C Hvidt; D Hvidtjørn; K Christensen; J B Nielsen; J Søndergaard

doi:10.1007/s10943-016-0300-1

Faith Moves Mountains-Mountains Move Faith: Two Opposite Epidemiological Forces in Research on Religion and Health

N C Hvidt, D Hvidtjørn, K Christensen, J B Nielsen, J Søndergaard

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Research suggests opposite epidemiological forces in religion and health: (1). Faith seems to move mountains in the sense that religion is associated with positive health outcomes. (2). Mountains of bad health seem to move faith. We reflected on these forces in a population of 3000 young Danish twins in which all religiosity measures were associated with severe disease. We believe the reason for this novel finding is that the sample presents as a particularly secular population-based study and that the second epidemiological force has gained the upper hand in this sample. We suggest that all cross-sectional research on religion and health should be interpreted in light of such opposite epidemiological forces potentially diluting each other.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Religion and Health
Volume	56
Issue	1
Pages (from-to)	294-304
Number of pages	11
ISSN	0022-4197
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0300-1
Publication status	Published - Feb 2017
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Denmark
Female
Health Status
Humans
Male
Religion
Surveys and Questionnaires
Twins/statistics & numerical data

Access to Document

10.1007/s10943-016-0300-1

Cite this

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title = "Faith Moves Mountains-Mountains Move Faith: Two Opposite Epidemiological Forces in Research on Religion and Health",

abstract = "Research suggests opposite epidemiological forces in religion and health: (1). Faith seems to move mountains in the sense that religion is associated with positive health outcomes. (2). Mountains of bad health seem to move faith. We reflected on these forces in a population of 3000 young Danish twins in which all religiosity measures were associated with severe disease. We believe the reason for this novel finding is that the sample presents as a particularly secular population-based study and that the second epidemiological force has gained the upper hand in this sample. We suggest that all cross-sectional research on religion and health should be interpreted in light of such opposite epidemiological forces potentially diluting each other.",

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author = "Hvidt, {N C} and D Hvidtj{\o}rn and K Christensen and Nielsen, {J B} and J S{\o}ndergaard",

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Faith Moves Mountains-Mountains Move Faith: Two Opposite Epidemiological Forces in Research on Religion and Health. / Hvidt, N C; Hvidtjørn, D; Christensen, K et al.
In: Journal of Religion and Health, Vol. 56, No. 1, 02.2017, p. 294-304.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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T2 - Two Opposite Epidemiological Forces in Research on Religion and Health

AU - Hvidt, N C

AU - Hvidtjørn, D

AU - Christensen, K

AU - Nielsen, J B

AU - Søndergaard, J

PY - 2017/2

Y1 - 2017/2

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AB - Research suggests opposite epidemiological forces in religion and health: (1). Faith seems to move mountains in the sense that religion is associated with positive health outcomes. (2). Mountains of bad health seem to move faith. We reflected on these forces in a population of 3000 young Danish twins in which all religiosity measures were associated with severe disease. We believe the reason for this novel finding is that the sample presents as a particularly secular population-based study and that the second epidemiological force has gained the upper hand in this sample. We suggest that all cross-sectional research on religion and health should be interpreted in light of such opposite epidemiological forces potentially diluting each other.

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KW - Adult

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Health Status

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Religion

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

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