The role of religion in health promotion from a sociological point - Essay Example

The World Health Organisation (WHO, 1947) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (Edlin, et al, 2000). This paper proposes to identify the benefits and factors relating to religion in the socialization of individuals, the development of social networks, and opportunities to enhance the health of various populations within the United States. The holistic view of health acknowledges the inter-relatedness of the spiritual, physical, psychological, emotional, social, and environmental factors that contribute to the overall quality of a person’s life.

(Edlin, et al, 2000). Socialization may be defined as the process by which an individual learns the ways of a given society or social group so that he can function within it. The socialization process occurs through social relationships, hence it is a function of social interaction (Elkin, 1960). Through the mechanisms of religion: church attendance, participation, etc, socialization takes place. A principle of theosomatic medicine, as stated by Levin (2001) is that “regular religious fellowship benefits health by offering support that buffers the effects of stress and isolation”.

Thus it is observed that by developing social contacts through the church or other religious organisation, the individual is able to come out of his isolation and get socialized into the religious group. Becoming a part of a group gives them a sense of belonging and security which has positive health outcomes. From a study conducted by Berkman and Syme (1979), for people between sixty and sixty-nine years of age, the relative risk of dying over the next nine years was 1.8 times greater for the most isolated men than the risk for the most connected men.

For women in this age group, those with the least connections had three times greater risk than those with the most connections.. Surveys and research on Americans’ religious practices