Religious activity improves life satisfaction for some physicians and older patients

OBJECTIVE: To assess religious perceptions and activities of physicians and older patients and to determine whether religious activities are associate d with life satisfaction. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional survey of practicing Virginia interni sts and psychiatrists and hospitalized or institutionalized (nursing home) older adults. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred randomly sampled practicing physicians and 55 hos pitalized or institutionalized older patients. METHODS: A mailed survey was used for the physicians and a structured inter view for the patients. All subjects provided information pertaining to demo graphics and life satisfaction using the Life Satisfaction Index (LSI-B). F or physicians or patients who engaged in any religious activity, the Intrin sic/Extrinsic Religiosity (I/E-R) scale was used. RESULTS: Of the 100 physicians (49 internists and 51 psychiatrists) who ans wered the survey (50% response rate), 75% used religious activity as a copi ng resource (39% somewhat, 36% definitely). There was a positive correlatio n between intrinsic religious activity (e.g., prayer, Bible reading) and li fe satisfaction (r = .233, P = .042). Of the 55 patients interviewed, 47 (8 6%)used religion as a coping resource, and intrinsic religious activity was positively associated with life satisfaction (r = .843, P < .001). Even af ter controlling for age, gender, health, and marital status, intrinsic reli gious activity remained a predictor of higher life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Intrinsic religious activity is associated positively with lif e satisfaction in physicians and ill older adults.