The extent to which religion affects or relates to a person’s health has been the focus of extensive research for many decades.  Generally these studies have produced positive relationships, suggesting that religious beliefs and/or practices are good for one’s health.  These studies were done mostly with parents of the baby boomer generation who were considered “religious” versus baby boomer and “cold war” generation adults who are said to be more “spiritual”.  (The difference between religion and spirituality, as defined here, is that spirituality involves “transcendence” or the ability to extend the self beyond the immediate context to achieve new perspectives.  A person’s spirituality was measured here without linking it with religion). 

Researchers of this study are interested in noting whether the recent increase in use of alternative medicine may be related to the “spirituality” of the boomer generation.  The basis of this data was telephone interview information gathered from the Gallup organization (in 1996) from baby boomers (427 respondents ages 35 to 50) and persons over age 65 (170 respondents).

They found that boomers are more attracted to relaxation therapy, massage, and chiropractic.  They are also more “spiritual” in that they are more likely to report miraculous experiences, more experiences with God, and more occasions of feeling close to a spiritual presence.  Those in the older generation are more likely to read the Bible and attend services.  For boomers, increased spirituality is significantly related to increased positive health perceptions.  Conversely, health perceptions of those over age 65 are related to increased religiosity.  For boomers, use of alternative health practices is related to neither spirituality nor to religion.  Use of alternative health practices among the elder group is significantly correlated to that generation’s spirituality. 

(Sutherland J et al;  Journal of Religion and Health 2003; 42(4):315-338.)

Comment: I included this article because students in our schools right now have parents who are boomers – many of whom are using alternative medicine.  These researchers sought to determine one possible reason for the increase of alternative medicine.  As it turns out, neither religion nor spirituality explain parents’ interest in these treatments.   – H.T.