Fresh data on Health Education Research are presented in the report 'Social relationships in religious institutions and healthy lifestyles.' 'The purpose of this study is to see if encouragement from fellow church members helps older people develop and maintain healthy lifestyles. The findings indicate that informal church-based support is associated with healthy lifestyles among older African Americans but not older Whites,' investigators in the United States report.
'In addition, the influence of support from fellow church members on health behaviors is greater for study participants who closely identify with their congregations. The results further reveal that the adoption of healthy lifestyles is not associated with support from people outside the church nor is it linked to formal programs that churches provide to encourage good health behaviors,' wrote N. Krause and colleagues, University of Michigan.
The researchers concluded: 'The theoretical and practice implications of these results are discussed.'
Krause and colleagues published their study in Health Education & Behavior (Social relationships in religious institutions and healthy lifestyles. Health Education & Behavior, 2011;38(1):25-38).
For additional information, contact N. Krause, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA.
The publisher of the journal Health Education & Behavior can be contacted at: SAGE Publications, USA , 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.
Keywords: City:Ann Arbor, State:MI, Country:United States, Health Education Research.
This article was prepared by Education Letter editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Education Letter via VerticalNews.com.
