Religious preference, church activity, and physical exercise

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology of Religion
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Utah exhibits high rates of physical and religious activity among adults.
• Approximately 90% of Utah adults have a religious preference, with 62% attending religious services weekly.
• This study investigates the interplay between religious affiliation, service attendance, and physical activity levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between religious preference, frequency of church attendance, and physical activity in Utah.
• To identify if religious activity moderates the relationship between religious preference and physical activity.
• To explore demographic and health-related factors influencing physical activity within religious groups.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional telephone survey of 6,188 adult respondents (aged 18+) across 12 Utah health districts.
• Data collected between June 1 and August 31, 1996.
• Statistical analysis to compare physical activity levels based on religious preference and church attendance, with adjustments for covariates.

Main Results:

• Weekly church attendees generally reported higher exercise rates than less frequent attendees within religious groups.
• Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) attending less frequently were the least physically active.
• After adjusting for age, smoking, education, marital status, and general health, differences in exercise between weekly and less-than-weekly attendees within religious groups became insignificant.
• Smoking and general health status significantly influenced the relationship between religious factors and exercise.
• Latter-day Saints (LDS) demonstrated significantly lower physical activity levels compared to non-LDS individuals in the adjusted model.

Conclusions:

• While smoking and general health status accounted for exercise variations within religious groups based on attendance frequency, the lower physical activity among LDS compared to non-LDS remains unexplained.
• Further research is needed to understand the factors contributing to the observed physical activity disparities between LDS and non-LDS populations in Utah.
• The findings highlight the complex relationship between religion, health behaviors, and physical activity, underscoring the need for nuanced public health strategies.