Religious people live longer, researcher says at Catholic college

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan (CCN/ Prairie Messenger) - Separating faith from medical care can no longer be justified in the face of studies showing that religious belief has an impact on health, Dr. Harold Koenig asserted during the 19th annual Michael Keenan Memorial Lecture.

Speaking at St. Thomas More College at the University of Saskatchewan Oct. 23, Koenig summarized study after study showing a link between religious belief or practice and better health. Koenig summarized research demonstrating that those engaged in active faith practices (such as regular church attendance, prayer, or connection with a faith community) show less depression, fewer anxiety disorders, stronger immune systems, lower suicide rates, greater survival rates from cancer, slower rates of progression in those suffering Alzheimer's Disease, lower blood pressure, less heart disease and lower cholesterol. "Religious people live longer," he said. Whether it's because religious belief provides meaning in life, the support of a community or healthier lifestyle choices, the mind-spirit-body connection is borne out in research, said Koenig, co-director of the center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University in Durham, N.C. In light of such research, it is time for health care professionals to take religious belief into account, Koenig asserted. He suggested that health-care professionals at least take a "spiritual history," asking whether the patient has religious or spiritual beliefs that give comfort during times of stress, or whether they are connected to a faith community. If appropriate, the patient might also be referred to pastoral care. "Always respect, value and support the beliefs and practices of the patient," said Koenig, asserting that recognizing the importance of faith in a person's life is one more way of providing patient-centered care. He reported that interest in the topic has exploded in recent years, with medical literature and research addressing the link between spirituality or religion and health in a variety of studies. Challenges in studying the link include the lack of a clear-cut definition of spirituality and the difficulty of measuring some factors, such as the effect of prayer. "There are limitations to what can be measured," he said. "All we can study are psychological, social and behavioral mechanisms. We cannot study it as a supernatural phenomenon." Studies of whether intercessory prayer has an effect on health care outcomes can be problematic. "Prayer is a relationship with God," he said, questioning how it could be confined to the parameters of any study. Having said that, he added that he personally believes that praying for others is important. "It's kind of amazing what you see, but you'd never be able to prove it." Koenig is certified in general psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry and geriatric medicine, and is on the faculty at Duke University as professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate professor of medicine. He has published extensively in the fields of mental health, geriatrics and religion, with nearly 300 articles and book chapters and more than 30 books in print or preparation. His research on religion, health and ethical issues in medicine has been featured in more than 50 national and international television programs, 80 national or international radio programs, and hundreds of newspapers and magazines, including cover stories for Reader's Digest, Newsweek, Time and Guideposts. He also has a connection to Saskatchewan; his father was born in Leader. The Keenan Lecture was established at St. Thomas More College in honor of Dr. Michael Keenan, professor and dean of the college, who died Oct. 31, 1986. Keenan first came to the college as a lecturer from 1965-67. He returned in 1971 as an assistant professor, and from 1974 as associate professor. In 1975, he was named first dean of the college and held the position for two five-year terms.

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Republished by Catholic Online with permission of the Canadian Catholic News Service.

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