A Cognitive Model of Religion's Influence On Health

Abstract

Research on the relation between religion and health has tended to focus on group identity and specific religious behaviors that are directly linked to improved health. This paper proposes a new model, which incorporates religious beliefs into a system of cognition (illusions and meaning for events) and psychoneuroimmunologic functioning. It is hypothesized that cognition within religious belief systems may be associated with bodily changes in the immune system and lead to particular health outcomes. The discussion highlights the need for psychological process models to study the way life events are interpreted in the context of religious beliefs. Limitations and challenges of such a global model are identified and several directions for future research are discussed.

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