Religiosity and Spirituality and the Intake of Fruit, Vegetable, and Fat: A Systematic Review
Table 1
Characteristics of studies included in the systematic review of the associations between R/S and fruit and vegetable or fat intake. Only variables related to this systematic review are reported in this table.
(a) Denominational studies (Adventists versus others)
Adventists (i) more fruit/vegetable (ii) less fat (iii) less saturated fat (iv) less % energy from saturated fat Nonsignificant: (i) polyunsaturated fat (ii) % energy from polyunsaturated fat (iii) % energy from fat
Mormon males more total fat & saturated fat intake than male Adventist vegetarians Polyunsaturated fat—Adventist vegetarians > Mormons > Adventist omnivores P : S ratio—low in SDA omnivores and Mormons
3-day dietary record: nonsignificant, though non-Adventists 18% more total fat FFQ (i) Non-Adventists more deep fried vegetable (ii) Non-Adventists more animal fat and more saturated fat
Denomination Attendance Religious social support (% network in church & % network in religion)
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Interview about fat reduction behavior
All R/S measures nonsignificant for men Women—Denomination nonsignificant; more % network in church, less fat reduction behavior; more % network in religion, more fat reduction behavior
Age, SES, urban-rural residence, living with someone, chronic illness, physically disabled, health & disability, general social support
Religious denomination/affiliation Religious involvement Index (religious attendance, religiosity, perception of religion as a source of strength and comfort)
Perceived environmental church support (perceived written informational, perceived spoken informational, perceived instrumental, total perceived church support)
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National Cancer Institute Fruit and Vegetable screener Servings of fruit and vegetable Fat- and Fiber- Related Behavior Questionnaire
More fruit and vegetable (i) more total perceived church support, perceived written informational support & perceived spoken informational support More low-fat behavior (i) more total perceived church support and perceived written informational support
Sex, years of education, health rating, age, BMI, influence of church
Spiritual Health Locus of Control Scale (active spiritual, passive spiritual)
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National Cancer Institute's 5-A-Day Survey
Overall: +ve for active spiritual and daily fruit servings −ve for passive spiritual and daily vegetable servings Males: −ve for passive spiritual and daily vegetable servings; nonsignificant for fruit Females: −ve for passive spiritual and daily vegetable servings; none for fruit
Youth Risk Behavior Survey (i) Ate no fruit during the past 7 days (ii) Ate no salad during the past 7 days (iii) Drank no 100% fruit juice during the past 7 days
Chi-square test: (i) nonsignificant—ate no fruit during the past 7 days; ate no salad during the past 7 days (ii) significant—drank no 100% fruit juice during the past 7 days Logistic regression: (i) univariate & multivariate—“intrinsic only” group more likely to drink no 100% fruit juice during the past 7 days
Religious service attendance Daily spiritual experiences Religious struggle Spiritual strain scale Mediator: Self-assurance
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5 servings of fruit and vegetable a day
Daily spiritual experiences positively related to daily 5 servings of fruit and vegetable Self-assurance not related to 5 servings of fruit and vegetable, so no mediation test conducted