Does religiousness and spirituality moderate the relations between physical and mental health among aging prisoners?

Abstract

Examinations of religious/spiritual practices and mindfulness-based interventions in prison research have assumed a positive stance with regard to the potential impact of religious/spiritual coping on physical and mental health. The current findings provide cautionary information that may further assist in selection of inmates for participation in such interventions.

The Sense of Quality of Life and Religious Strategies of Coping with Stress in Prison Inmates

“…Analyses performed by Pallas ( 2014 ) reveal that in males convicted for sex crimes negative religious strategies correlate positively with anxiety and depression, as opposed to positive strategies, which reduce the level of anxiety. Similar results were obtained in the study by Allen and colleagues ( 2013 )—positive religious strategies reduced the level of depression, while negative ones not only increased the level of depression but were also significantly related to a desire to die soon in elderly prisoners serving a sentence for murder. In a Polish study by Niewiadomska ( 2011 ), both types of religious strategies turned out not to be significant to the following aspects of prisoners’ sense of social rootedness: their sense of meaning, resourcefulness, and autonomy and their perception of social order.…”

“…The present study confirms previous findings concerning the use of religious coping with stress by prison inmates (cf. Allen et al 2013 ; Niewiadomska 2011 ; Pallas 2014 ).…”

The individual experience of ageing prisoners: systematic review and meta‐synthesis through a Good Lives Model framework

“…In response to the hardship of imprisonment, ageing prisoners adopt various coping mechanisms, such as religion and spirituality (Leigey, ). In contrast with younger prisoners, who tend to hide their religious belief from their peers, ageing prisoners often pride themselves over a rich spiritual life (Reed, ), which alleviates feelings of depression, anxiety and fear (Bishop et al , , Allen et al , ; Allen et al , ), thus promoting “inner peace” (see Table ). Attending religious ceremonies also represents an opportunity for social life and connectedness (Reed, ).…”

Factors influencing dietary fat intake among black emerging adults

“…As already described, due to the practice of using religious terms interchangeably, studies pertaining to religion, religiosity, spirituality, and religious commitment are included. In general, researchers have found the above-mentioned religious variables to be significant protective factors (Allen et al, 2013;Bowen-Reid & Harrell, 2002;Ellison, & Henderson, 2011;Hill, Burdette, & Idler, 2011;Joshi et al, 2009;Kilbourne, Cummings, & Levine, 2011;Larson & Larson, 2003;McDougle et al, 2013;Pargament, 1997). Individuals with greater levels of religion, religiosity, spirituality, and/or religious commitment reported better mental and physical health outcomes compared to individuals with less levels.…”

“…In general, researchers have found religious variables (e.g., religious commitment) to be significant protective factors for one's health (Allen et al, 2013;Bowen-Reid & Harrell, 2002;Ellison, & Henderson, 2011;Hill, Burdette, & Idler, 2011;Joshi et al, 2009;Kilbourne, Cummings, & Levine, 2011;Larson & Larson, 2003;McDougle et al, 2013;Pargament, 1997). However, in this study, participants with high religious commitment and high perceived stress had high dietary fat intake scores compared to those with low religious commitment scores.…”