A blossoming body of research is showing that religion can have an impressive impact on health, but scientists are also finding limits in their ability to study this benefit, says a leading authority on the subject.
Dr Harold Koenig, co-director of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University, has systematically studied the link between religion and health for more than 20 years. He outlined recent research during a Rural Health Conference at the University of Alabama.
He said a growing number of scientists are studying the connection, and the findings have important implications for medicine.
For instance, studies show that people with strong religious beliefs - no matter what faith or denomination - recover faster from serious depression and are less likely to become seriously depressed. This is important because depression is a barrier to healing and good health, Koenig said. "Religion is a coping behaviour," he said. "Depression is kind of an indicator of failure to cope."
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