Religiosity and Health: A Holistic Biopsychosocial Perspective.

The resurgence of interest in the influence of religion and spirituality on health is examined within the context of the holistic paradigm and historical connection between nursing and spirituality. While nursing and spirituality often intersect with end-of-life considerations, this article presents findings from studies that demonstrate that religious involvement favors health and longevity across the life course. Examples include protective associations with stress, depression, self-rated health, and infant birth weight. Theoretical and empirical explanations for this relationship are offered, such as social and psychological resources and healthy behaviors. The effects of religion on biological functioning, including allostatic load and telomere length, are also discussed, although this area is understudied. Considerations for the "dark-side" of religious involvement are also offered. Suggestions for nurses wishing to protect and promote the health of their patients using a holistic approach include expanding knowledge of research on religion and health and advocating for patients' spiritual needs by conducting a comprehensive spiritual assessment in primary, secondary, and tertiary clinical settings.

Acculturation in Mexican immigrants: a concept analysis.

The concept of acculturation in Mexican immigrants was analyzed using the concept analysis technique developed by Walker and Avant. The related concepts for acculturation are assimilation, separation, and marginalization. The defining attributes identified for acculturation are original cultural identity, exposure to a culture different from one's own, and changes in the behavioral, affective, and/or cognitive domains of one's functioning after exposure to a new culture. An antecedent for acculturation is that identification with one's culture of origin must be well established. Another antecedent is the willingness to modify one's original cultural identity. Transition is identified as a consequence of acculturation. Acculturation is a complex, multifaceted concept and cannot be adequately captured by measures that use language preference alone. Other factors such as social class, employment, education, and income should also be considered when acculturation is a factor in nursing practice and research.