Rural reality contradicts the ethnographic literature-a nationwide survey on folk beliefs and people's affection for the stork in Poland.

BACKGROUND: Due to early synanthropization and ecological and behavioural features, the White Stork Ciconia ciconia became the most cherished of European birds. Rooted in human culture, the species has been well studied; nevertheless, knowledge of people's attitudes and stork-related folk beliefs remain descriptive. Here, we attempt to quantify these issues in the world's largest stronghold of the species, Poland, in the 1950s. METHODS: The study is based on recently discovered, original nationwide survey data from the 1958 International White Stork Census. These materials were gathered to assess the population size, but they also included issues belonging to the humanities. We have worked them up in a quantitative manner, which has resulted in an original approach rarely found in ethnological studies. We aim to propose an original typology of stork-related beliefs, their spread and regional diversity in Poland and the relationship with stork abundance. RESULTS: A sample of 2343 questionnaires revealed that affection towards storks was widespread (91.4% positive responses), more so in eastern Poland. The most frequent beliefs relate to respect for the stork (65%) and prophesies (24%), thereafter parental beliefs (7%) and stork biology (3%). Positive attitudes and the dissemination of beliefs increased with stork densities but were unrelated to the respondents' sex. Utilitarian beliefs outweighed those prioritized in ethnographic studies (e.g. the stork's human origins) or popular today (baby-bringing), and expressed the real concerns of country folk. CONCLUSIONS: The discovery of long-lost data bordering on ethnology and nature conservation and their novel work-up highlights a realistic dimension of the human-nature relationship and provides a benchmark for further interdisciplinary research.

Religion would be a missing link in the case formulation of adolescents with conduct problems: an eclectic approach.

Psychiatry is concerned with mental health. Cognition is one of the key mental functions and manifests itself primarily as behavior. A behavior exhibited in response to a stimulus is influenced by biological (inherited), psychological (individual), and social (environmental) factors. During consolidation of an exhibited behavior, the factors affecting the individual's cognitive structure and personality play crucial roles. Underlying factors for a problematic behavior, and their weakness/strength levels are determined via the Biopsychosocial model. Empirically effective current practices to intervene the problematic behaviors do not always result in success. One of the reasons may be other elements that were omitted during the case formulation process. This article aims to stress the idea that whatever the underlying factor of a problematic behavior is, the most crucial determinant and/or pre-emptive factor in developing or maintaining that behavior might actually be the religion as a governing and directive philosophy on how to conduct oneself. In this instance, the key is in the hands of the parents or caregivers.

Religious/spiritual struggles and whole person functioning among Colombian university students: Longitudinal evidence of mutual influence.

This prospective study examined the primary, secondary and complex conceptual models of religious/spiritual struggles with 18 indicators of whole person functioning across five domains: psychological well-being, psychological distress, social well-being, physical well-being and character. We used three waves of longitudinal data (Wave 1: August/September 2021, Wave 2: October/November 2021, Wave 3: February 2022) from Colombian university students (N = 2878, Mage = 20.88 ± 4.05 years). Adjusting for covariates assessed in Wave 1, our primary analysis applied the analytic templates for outcome-wide and lagged exposure-wide designs to estimate two sets of lagged linear regression models. Religious/spiritual struggles in Wave 2 were associated with a small-to-medium-sized decline in subsequent functioning on 17/18 indicators in Wave 3, and worse functioning on 16/18 indicators in Wave 2 was associated with very small-to-medium-sized increases in subsequent religious/spiritual struggles in Wave 3. The results provided evidence in favour of the complex conceptual model for 16/18 indicators of whole person functioning. Our findings extend existing evidence on the reciprocal association between religious/spiritual struggles and individual functioning to a wide range of indicators, reinforcing the need for practitioners to consider the dynamic interplay between religious/spiritual struggles and individual functioning as they work with younger populations.

Congregation leader and member discussions in a church-based family strengthening, mental health promotion and HIV prevention trial: Intervention.

Collaboration with African religious congregations can promote psychosocial well-being with greater accessibility. Effective collaboration requires studying congregations as unique intervention contexts. This study explored how an intervention in western Kenya fit within and altered congregational discussion patterns. We conducted a cluster-randomized trial of a church-based intervention to improve family relationships, mental health and sexual health. For each intervention topic covered, we describe baseline and post-intervention changes in church leaders' beliefs and communication as well as discussion frequency between leaders and members and among members. Mixed-effects logistic regression assessed pre-post change in member-reported discussion frequency. At baseline, members and leaders reported already discussing family, parenting, and emotions frequently and sexuality and finances less frequently. Leaders generally felt they should discuss all topics but were less comfortable and knowledgeable about sexuality and finances than other topics. After the intervention, leader comfort and knowledge increased and discussion frequency increased for nearly all topics, especially those discussed less initially. Good fit between the desires and activities of church members and leaders suggests the potential for further collaboration, especially on mental health and family well-being. Increased discussion of sensitive topics underscores the potential of community-level interventions to affect social norms.

Urban Churches Show an Increase in Attendance, Donations, and Finances During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the USA: Evidence from the United Methodist Church.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on religion and its practice. This paper aims to examine how the pandemic affects religious activities, donations, and finances over time and across regions within the United Methodist Church (UMC) in the USA. To address this question, we analyze survey data collected during the pandemic from 2963 churches in the USA by United Methodist Communications. Our analysis utilizes several quantitative techniques, including Z-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multinomial logistic regressions. The results indicate a decrease in church attendance over time, with a more pronounced effect observed in non-urban areas (suburban, small town, and rural). Similarly, while church donations and finances mitigate over time across churches, churches in urban areas experience a quicker rebound compared to those in non-urban areas. Lastly, we find that church attendance and donations positively affect finances. These findings hold important implications for churches in various regions, offering insights to develop strategies for navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The relationship between religious affiliation and menopause symptoms and attitudes in United States women.

OBJECTIVES: This study's aim is to examine patterns of menopause symptoms and attitudes among United States women from different religious affiliations. STUDY DESIGN: We used data from a national sample of midlife and older adults. For this analysis, we included only women who were postmenopausal or had undergone hysterectomy. We constructed univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to examine the relationship between religious affiliation and menopause symptoms and attitudes while adjusting for potential confounders. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Menopause symptoms (hot flashes, pain in sexual interactions, pleasure in sexual interactions, trouble falling asleep) and attitudes (relief on periods stopping, regret on periods stopping, worry about becoming less attractive) measured by self-report on Likert scales. RESULTS: Across denominations, 47 % of women experienced hot flashes, 48 % experienced pain in sexual interactions, 95 % experienced pleasure, and 88 % had trouble falling asleep. Regarding attitudes towards menopause and aging, 62 % felt relief in their periods stopping, while 56 % expressed worry about becoming less attractive with aging. Baptist women were more likely to experience hot flashes and trouble falling asleep compared to Catholic women. However, when adjusted for smoking status, this relationship did not persist. Unaffiliated and Spiritual women were less likely to experience trouble falling asleep and more likely to report pleasure in sexual interactions compared to Catholic women. Spiritual women were significantly more likely to feel regret on periods stopping compared to Catholics. CONCLUSIONS: There is a relationship between religious affiliation and the menopause experience. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering social influences on women's health.

Religiosity and gender bias structure social networks.

The number of studies examining gender differences in the social relationship rewards associated with costly religious practice has been surprisingly low. Here, we use data from 289 residents of an agricultural Tibetan village to assess whether individuals are more inclined to establish supportive relationships with religious individuals in general and to investigate the gender disparities in the relationship between religiosity and personal network characteristics. Our results reveal that participation in religious rituals contributes to the overall development of social support networks. The benefits to personal networks, however, seem to be contingent upon gender. For resource-intensive, infrequent religious rituals such as distant pilgrimages, males seem to benefit slightly more in terms of elevated in-degree values in their personal networks, despite similar levels of investment as females. In contrast, for daily, low-cost religious practices requiring ongoing participation, both genders obtain similar increases in in-degree values through regular engagement. It becomes more challenging for women to increase their status in communities when the effort invested in religious rituals yields smaller rewards compared with the same effort by men, contributing to ongoing gender inequality. These findings highlight the importance of examining the particular characteristics of religious rituals and the gender disparities in the associated rewards.

Identity development in multicultural context: Multidimensional self exploration approaches employed by Modern Orthodox women.

The aim of this study is to examine identity development of Modern Orthodox women as they pursue their studies within a multicultural and multi-faith environment. Content analysis was used to analyze the final papers of undergraduate religious female students in Israel (N = 47) who participated in a semester-long dialogue course for Jewish students. The findings revealed three salient themes, suggesting that women's self-exploration developed noticeably within a rich multicultural context: (a) participants engaged in self-reflection by drawing comparisons between themselves and Arab students, leading to an exploration of their religious beliefs and group affiliations; (b) participants embraced their individuality within a multicultural context while balancing their religious duties; and (c) participants critically examined the status of Orthodox women in society, particularly within the family context. These findings highlight the process of identity exploration among Modern Orthodox women, complicated by intersections of religion, gender, and culture. In doing so, this study contributes to the understanding of identity development in multicultural societies.

Stigma, Support, and Ideation About Suicide in Indonesian Twitter: A Topic Modelling Study.

Stigma surrounding suicide is a massive problem in Indonesia. Thus, it is important to study how conversations about suicide take place. We take a machine learning approach and study tweets with suicide keywords to understand how people converse about suicide or express suicide ideation. Tweets with suicide-related keywords were extracted from May to June 2023. 20,057 tweets were subject to topic modelling with an 11-topic solution. While most topics contain negative messages, no purely stigmatizing topics emerge, despite prior research suggesting overwhelming stigma. Various kinds of existential, emotional, and social tweets about suicide take place among Indonesian users, indicating that Indonesian Twitter users utilize the platform to express their thoughts and emotions. Notably, religious-spiritual keywords are highly prevalent, suggesting that in a highly religious society, there is a need for policy makers and awareness campaigns to frame their positive messaging within the society's religious context.

Religious engagement and antibody response to the COVID-19 vaccine.

This research examined religious engagement and subsequent antibody responses to the COVID-19 vaccine. Using publicly available data from the Understanding Society survey, we employed a longitudinal design. Between January 2016 and May 2018, respondents completed measures of religious belonging, frequency of attending religious services (i.e., extrinsic religiosity), and the difference religion made to their lives (i.e., intrinsic religiosity). A COVID-19 survey wave was collected in March 2021 and measured antibody responses to the COVID-19 vaccine via blood draw. A final sample of 746 adults [462 (61.9%) females, Mage = 61.94, SD = 19.07] was achieved. Mediation analyses (PROCESS, Model 4; Hayes, Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach, The Guildford Press, 2022; Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach; The Guildford Press) revealed one pathway through which religion and antibody responses to the COVID-19 vaccine are associated, namely via extrinsic factors-attendance at religious services. In contrast, intrinsic religious factors which is the difference religion can make to one's life, was not a significant mediator. Overall, this analysis provides evidence that behavioural enactment of religion matters to the effectiveness of vaccination and the management of public health crises. It also highlights the value of social resources associated with engagement in valued social groups-and in particular religious social groups-for public health.

The Relationship Between Temporal Sense and Psychopathologies of College Students with Sensory Impairments: Mediation of Religions.

Previous studies on the relationship between temporal sense and negative mental health symptoms have focused primarily on healthy college students, overlooking the role of religion. This study sought to examine the impact of religion on college students with sensory impairment and fill a gap in the research on the relationship between temporal sense and negative mental health symptoms in this population. The results were obtained from a cross sectional survey of 540 participants, including 370 hearing-impaired students and 140 visually impaired students. The survey investigated the mediating effect of religion on the relationship between temporal sense and negative mental health symptoms in impaired students. The rates of negative mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress) detected were 18.9%, 31.1%, and 2.9%, respectively. Students with different types of sensory impairments showed significant differences in their perception of time. The percentages of students with sensory impairments who attended church and practiced religion were 2.0%, 6.0%, and 1.0%, respectively. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between temporal sense and negative mental health symptoms, with religion serving as a mediating factor.

Religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in Nigeria: A qualitative study.

Background: Research on the lived experience of dementia is burgeoning across the social and health sciences. Yet, very little is still known about the experience of dementia for many tribes and ethnoreligious groups, as most studies are conducted in Western countries. Objective: The aim is to advance the understanding of the role of faith and prayer in the lives of people with dementia in Nigeria through a lens of everyday citizenship. Method: Interviews were conducted with 17 older people with dementia in a low-income, Yoruba-speaking community in Southwestern Nigeria. After transcription, the data were analysed thematically. Results: The major theme identified in participants' accounts was that prayer served as a space for active and agentic participation. This theme was further elaborated upon through four subthemes: (1) agency in routine and daily prayer, (2) cognitive (re)framing through prayer, (3) prayer as a vehicle for active social interaction and support, and (4) prayer as work and transaction. Conclusion: Participants described religious practices as important to their acceptance of the situations, their feelings of hope in everyday lives, and their connection and contributions to the community. Analysis also shows the centrality of relationality in the everyday experiences of people with dementia. Contribution: This article contributes to advancing the understanding of the socially orientated everyday experience of dementia. It contributes to a small body of literature on the social aspect and everyday experiences of living with dementia in Africa and stands out as the first of its kind study in Nigeria.

The perceived potential of religion in mitigating climate change and how this is being realized in Germany and Switzerland.

Scholars of religion have repeatedly debated and contested the role of religion and spirituality in combatting climate change. In recent years, the potential of religion has also become an issue among natural scientists, politicians, environmental organizations, and civil society. Indeed, the potential of religion to mitigate climate change is perceived both internally and externally, and various expectations are placed on religion. This article examines the perceived potential of religion in mitigating climate change and how this is being realized. Based on 38 interviews, conducted with representatives from religious communities and umbrella organizations in Germany and Switzerland, we focus on the areas of values, political influence, and materialization. Our results show that the potential of religion in addressing climate change remains largely unfulfilled despite increasing steps in this direction.

The Cultural Formulation Interview as a clinical tool in the assessment of eating disorders: a pilot study.

Background: The Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) in the DSM-5 is a person-centered instrument for systematically appraising the impact of sociocultural factors in psychiatric assessment. The CFI has been shown to be feasible, acceptable, and useful in various clinical contexts. However, to this date there is only one published report describing the use of the CFI with patients with eating disorders. Aims: To explore the potential benefits and challenges of utilizing the CFI in the assessment of eating disorders. Methods: As an addendum to an ongoing qualitative study about barriers to treatment for eating disorders for individuals with a migration background in Sweden, we utilized the CFI in the assessment of adult patients (n=8) in specialist eating disorder treatment. Interview data were analyzed employing a thematic analysis framework. Participants provided feedback using a standard form for evaluation of the CFI. Results: Certain CFI questions proved especially meaningful in this context. In response to the CFI question about patient explanatory models, previously unrecognized ideas about causation emerged. These included perfectionism-a known risk factor for eating disorders-based on immigrant parents' career expectations and experiences of strict family control over life choices. In response to the CFI questions on cultural identity and its impact, the participants provided rich descriptions including important themes such as religion, racism, and ambiguities associated with being a second-generation immigrant. The final CFI question, eliciting concern about the patient-clinician relationship, revealed numerous examples of prejudice and unfamiliarity with migrant groups among healthcare providers. Implications: The CFI can be useful in the assessment of patients with eating disorders and should be further explored as a standard tool in specialist eating disorder services.

The Impact of Religious Beliefs on Early Lactation in Israeli Mothers.

Objective: To explore the influence of religious beliefs and faith on breastfeeding initiation among mothers in Israel. Materials and Methods: The study, conducted from February 2022 to July 2023 at Bnai Zion Medical Center (located in Haifa district) and Laniado hospital (located in Netanya, Sharon plain), included mothers and their partners who voluntarily completed questionnaires. The survey, comprising 26 questions, delves into religion, faith, religiosity, and infant feeding approaches, while considering various socioeconomic and health-related factors. Results: Religious and secular mothers exhibited a higher inclination toward exclusive breastfeeding compared with the traditional mothers (p < 0.001). Notably, more maternal education years were associated with more exclusive breastfeeding (odds ratio [OR] 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-2.32; p = 0.017). However, older age of youngest sibling (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.32-0.98; p = 0.041), cesarean delivery (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.44-0.94; p = 0.023), and no desire to breastfeed during pregnancy (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.57-0.80; p < 0.001) emerged as significant factors decreasing exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: The study indicates that the level of religiosity and prenatal intention to breastfeed impact breastfeeding practices, along with maternal education, age of the youngest sibling, and delivery mode. These insights provide valuable guidance for initiatives aimed at boosting breastfeeding rates, particularly in sectors where rates are comparatively low.

The Need to Widen the Concept of Health and to Include the Spiritual Dimension.

For many, the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of health does not reflect their own understanding of health, because it lacks aspects such as spiritual wellbeing. Responding to these concerns, the WHO called in 2023 for a vision of health that integrates physical, mental, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing. To date, medical practitioners are often reluctant to consider spiritual aspects, because of a perceived lack of statistical evidence about the strength of relations. Research on this topic is emerging. A recent study among 800 young people living with HIV in Zimbabwe showed how study participants navigated three parallel, at times contradicting health systems (religious, traditional, medical). Conflicting approaches led to multifaceted dilemmas (= spiritual struggles), which were significantly related to poorer mental and physical health. This illustrates the need for inclusion of spiritual aspects for health and wellbeing in research, and of increased collaboration between all stakeholders in healthcare.

The role of religion and COVID-19 vaccine uptake in England.

BACKGROUND: While many countries have successfully deployed COVID-19 vaccination programmes, there are disparities in their uptake. One factor influencing vaccine coverage is religion. Existing research has found a link between religious beliefs and vaccine hesitancy. This study looks at religion in England to examine its relationship with public health. METHODS: This analysis used data from a survey of over 12,000 respondents in England, conducted through the YouGov Online Panel. Respondents were asked whether they identified with a religion, and if so which, and the number of COVID-19 vaccinations they had received. We employed logistic regressions to analyse the data, accounting for age, gender, education, generalised trust, trust in government, and political ideology. RESULTS: We find that respondents who identify as part of the Church of England have had significantly more COVID-19 vaccinations. Conversely, adherents to the Pentecostal Evangelical and Islamic faiths have had significantly fewer COVID-19 vaccinations. These relationships hold even when adjusting for age, education, level of trust, and political affiliation. CONCLUSION: This research indicates a potential influence of religious affiliation on vaccine uptake, highlighting the need for more carefully-tailored public health programmes. Recognizing the diverse associations of different religious affiliations on health behaviour is important for shaping future vaccination campaigns and policy interventions. Engaging with religious communities and leaders may be one method through which to deal with vaccine hesitancy and improve public health.

Identifying and Addressing the Spiritual Needs of Older Adults in Care Facilities: Administrators of Chinese Nursing Homes Relate Their Perspectives.

Addressing the spiritual needs of older adults is a central component of holistic service provision. Using a qualitative description design, this study identified: (1) common spiritual needs among Chinese nursing home residents, including the needs of residents with dementia, (2) the process staff use to identify these needs when residents are unable to verbalize them, and (3) the strategies staff implement to meet the identified needs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 nursing home administrators. Analysis produced five themes, including the need for older adults to express their faith, receive love and care, have contact with their children, interact with others, and participate in activities. For residents with dementia who are unable to verbalize their concerns, staff used two primary strategies to identify spiritual needs: careful observation and communication with family members. To address the identified spiritual needs, multiple strategies were offered including arranging clergy visits and personalizing care.

Traditional health practitioners' understanding of spirit possession in Gauteng province, South Africa.

Background: Traditional health practitioners (THPs) understand spirit possession as a cultural or religious spirit occupying a person, while the mental healthcare providers understand it as a mental illness. The different understanding is based on manifestations that mimic that of mental illness, such as seeing and hearing things that others cannot see or hear. Spirit possession holds different meanings in different cultures and religions that could be either beneficial or detrimental. Furthermore, spirit possession is understood as a channel of communication between the living and the dead or God or a supernatural phenomenon in which a spirit owns a person. Aim: This study explored and interpreted THPs' understanding of spirit possession in Gauteng province, South Africa. Method: Hermeneutic phenomenology study explored and interpreted the THPs' understanding of spirit possession in Gauteng province. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 12 THPs who were selected through snowball sampling techniques. Data analysis followed Heidegger's and Gadamer's philosophies and Van Manen's six steps of the analytic approach. Results: The findings revealed that THPs understood spirit possession as spiritual illness, ancestral calling and demonic spirit or witchcraft. Conclusion: Traditional health practitioners' understanding of spirit possession could promote mental health and prevent mental illness by providing support to a spirit-possessed person and referral to mental healthcare services. Contribution: This study contributed that not all manifestations presented by persons with spirit possession are actual and clear-cut mental illness, but could be unwritten cultural and/ or religious illnesses that needs cultural and religious services also.