How are relying on religion and on science to make sense of the world associated with health-related resources and behaviors and well-being?

Abstract

Objective

Differences in the extent to which religious and scientific perspectives inform individuals’ understanding of the world may affect their health and well-being. Yet minimal research has examined the influence of religious or scientific beliefs (or their relative influences) on health-related resources, behaviors, well-being, and stress responses, the focus of the current study.

Methods

A national sample of 289 U.S. adults (mean age 34.42, 62.1% female, 67.5% White) was recruited through an online platform. Participants completed baseline and 11 nightly self-report surveys.

Results

Higher reliance on religion was generally associated with greater psychological well-being (i.e. higher mindfulness, locus of control, positive affect; lower negative affect), while reliance on science was related to more COVID-19 distress. Contrary to hypotheses, scientific beliefs were not generally associated with a healthier lifestyle at the between-subject level, and higher reliance on both religion and science predicted more daily comfort food consumption. However, both belief systems buffered negative impacts of daily stress on physical activity at between-person (science) and within-person (religion) levels.

Conclusion

Results showed unique benefits and drawbacks of each meaning system on individuals’ health behaviors and well-being. Future research is warranted to illuminate the intricate interplay between these two popular perspectives on the world.

Keywords:

• Religion
• science beliefs
• health behaviors
• affect

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data available on request from the authors—The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, K. G., upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

Issacher Fund