Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111675

Michele Yehieli, DrPH¹, Mel Gonnerman, PhD¹, and Gene M. Lutz, PhD². (1) Iowa Project EXPORT Center of Excellence on Health Disparities, University of Northern Iowa, 220 WRC, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0241, 319 273-7965, michele.yehieli@uni.edu, (2) Center for Social & Behavioral Research, University of Northern Iowa, 221 Sabin Hall, Cedar Falls, IA 50614

Background: A better understanding of the role of religion and health locus of control beliefs among African Americans has implications for efforts to reduce health disparities by increasing health promoting behaviors and by decreasing the incidents of emotional problems.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess the relationship of religion, gender, age, health locus of control, health promoting behaviors, and emotional and physical health among African Americans.

Method: A nonrandom community sample of 107 adult African Americans, who were Protestant Christians living in a low-income neighborhood in a small metropolitan area in Northeast Iowa, completed face-to-face interviews.

Results: Religion measures were associated with higher levels of spiritual growth and interpersonal relationships and health promoting behaviors. Religion measures were also associated with fewer negative emotional experiences such as loneliness, trouble sleeping, problems eating, and not wanting to see people. Health locus of control beliefs were predictive of health promoting behaviors in the area of interpersonal relationships, and this category of health promotion was associated with loneliness, eating problems, and not wanting to see people.

Conclusions: Frequent church attendance and spirituality are associated with positive emotional health outcomes. These findings are supportive of efforts to bridge people's faith with their reception of health services.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand how level of spirituality in an African American population is associated with positive health promoting behaviors;
• To recognize the positive role that religion plays in African Americans in reducing mental health problems; and
• To understand the value placed by African Americans on the role of religion in preventing and healing disease, in comparison to the value they place on medical doctors.

Keywords: Faith Community, Health Behavior

Related Web page: www.iowahealthdisparities.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.