The Relationship Between Core Values, Religiosity and Spirituality, and Health

Abstract

Individuals’ values and religious beliefs can impact their behavior and mental state, and in turn, their health. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the effects of personal ideology on physical and mental health. This study seeks to fill in current literature gaps by examining the effect of the triad of values, religiosity, and spirituality on health. Data was collected using various validated measures of values, religiosity, and health from 2537 American, English- speaking respondents on Amazon Mechanical Turk. The findings from this study show that values and religiosity have a significant additive relationship with overall health, even when controlling for demographic variables. Spirituality, when looked at in relation to religiosity, cannot be used to predict health or values. This study has implications for health practitioners and policymakers, as certain interventions which target values and religiosity may be helpful in creating behavioral change. Due to the overall modest effect sizes and value interdependence, further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and potential interventions.