Abstract
Prevalence of chronic disease, mental health problems, and risk behaviors in San Bernardino (SB) County reflect some of the worst health outcomes in the State of California and the United States. Using the Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change (ITHBC) as the theoretical framework, this community-based participatory research (CBPR) study aimed to determine how religious self-regulation skills and ability, and religious behaviors, jointly affect health promotion behaviors among socio-economically challenged residents of southwest SB County, California. A convenience sample of adult residents (N = 261) completed a series of inventories to measure the relationship between modified ITHBC constructs of religious self-regulation skills, religious self-management behaviors, and health outcomes. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis was conducted to validate the strong positive effect of religious self-regulation skills and ability on how frequently individuals engage in both organized and non-organized religious activities. Results also indicated a significant positive impact of religious behaviors towards healthy eating behaviors. However, without the engagement in religious activities, high religious self-regulation skills and ability inhibited the likelihood of healthy food intake. This faith-related theoretical model provides an avenue for faith-based organizations’ capacity for contributing to community health promotion.
Highlights
Multidisciplinary research reveals a range of health benefits through participation in religion (Ansari et al 2017, p. 6; Koenig et al 2012; Tan et al 2013)
The partnership of faith and health is revealed in the relationship of latent variables identified by use of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
This study adds quantitative evidence to support a positive relationship between religious self-regulation skills and abilities and healthy eating behaviors, moderated by the combination of non-organized and organized religious self-management behaviors
Summary
Multidisciplinary research reveals a range of health benefits through participation in religion (Ansari et al 2017, p. 6; Koenig et al 2012; Tan et al 2013). The range of health outcomes involves lowered rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, and blood pressure, all-cause mortality, breast cancer risk factors, and improved fruit and vegetable intake (Gillum and Williams 2009; Gillum and Ingram 2006; Tan et al 2013). This area of research is of great interest among the San Bernardino County population who have higher prevalence rates for heart.
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