以宗教專職人員之健康狀態來看宗教與健康之關係

在老化社會，人們除了希望活得老，更要活得健康。宗教信仰已被認為跟健康有關，因此過去數十年來，研究此議題漸增。本文旨在探究是否宗教專職人員與一般族群的生活型態及健康狀況有所不同。經由蒐尋宗教專職人員健康相關的研究，發現文獻不多，且以西方國家的研究為主。有限的資料整理顯示，整體而言，宗教專職人員其死亡率比一般族群低、平均壽命較長；其他如心血管疾病、肺部或呼吸道疾病的發生率較低；而膝關節炎、乳癌或其他生殖器官疾病的發生率則較高。宗教信仰影響健康的機制可能是透過被動（passive）與積極（active）兩種模式。被動模式是指教徒較易遵守規定的生活型態，如規律作息、心情平靜而有較佳的睡眠品質；或是從健康行為的角度，如禁菸酒、定期健康檢查、較高的內在健康控制信念、較好的醫囑遵從性來促進健康。積極模式則是指宗教信仰可以增進正向心理健康、降低憂鬱、提供高社會支持性、及提升生活品質；以致於即使個體在面對疾病或失能時，能有較佳的調適；更有證據顯示，這些積極正向的調適行為，最終甚至可內化而確實造成個體細胞或器官等生理層面的變化，因而影響個體的健康或減緩老化。經由本文的回顧，部分文獻確實顯示宗教專職人員有較佳的健康狀態。然而，這方面的研究尚不足，尤其國內更少，未來非常需要發展更積極、深入的研究來協助釐清其相關性，以獲致更具體切確的結論。

In the aging society, how to stay healthy and reduce risk factors for disease and disability in later life is an important issue. Since accumulated evidence showed religious belief to be related to health status, we would like to know if the religious professionals do lead a healthier and more positive life style and also live longer than the general population. In reviewing the relevant literature related to the health status of religious professionals and how religion influence on health, few studies, especially on eastern societies could be found. Based on the limited evidence, we conclude that religious professionals had significantly lower mortality rates than the general population. They had lower incidence rates of cardiovascular, lung or respiratory disease, but had higher rates of knee OA, breast and reproductive organ cancers, generally. There were two possible underlying mechanisms of how religious commitments may improve health: passive and active mechanisms. The passive mechanisms of promoting health may include the life styles shaped by religious commitment, such as regular life and activity schedules, better sleeping quality due to peaceful mind, or healthy behaviors such as no smoking or drinking, regular health checks, higher internal locus of control, better adherences with medical prescriptions. In addition, through active mechanisms, religious beliefs can foster positive psychology, social supports, and quality of life even in facing illness or disability. This may, in the long run, internalize to further cause real physiological adaptations in cellular or organ levels. Therefore, religious commitments did show promising results of better health and successful aging in some studies. However, more research is needed to further explore their relationships and to draw more confirmed conclusions.