RELIGION AND HEALTH
Year:2017 | Volume:5 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:8

Background and Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, which jeopardizes different aspects of individual health. In this study, we aimed to determine the association of praying and life expectancy with general health of women suffering from breast cancer.Materials and Methods: This descriptive, correlational study was carried out in Rasht, Iran, 2016. The study population included 115 patients, 90 of whom were selected using the Morgan table. The data collection tools comprised of Miller Hope Scale (MHS), General Health Questionnaire, and pray questionnaire. Afterwards, the data were analyzed using multivariable regression statistical methods and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient.Results: The results showed a significant negative correlation between praying and general health (r=-0.463, P<0.01) and its parameters, that is, physical signs, anxiety, social conflict, and depression. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between praying behaviors and general health (r=-0.329, P<0.01) and its parametes, namely physical signs, anxiety, social conflict, and depression.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the correlation of praying behaviors and life expectancy with general health of women suffering from breast cancer was significant. This finding underscores the need for spritual methods in order to promote optimism and hopefulness in medical treatment.

Background and Purpose: Gestational diabetes (GD) is one of the most prevalent diseases in women during pregnancy that is initiated and diagnosed during the pregnancy. Given the importance of early diagnose and timely treatment of this disease, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of spiritual group therapy (SGT) on anxiety and quality of life among the women with Gestational diabetes.Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 40 women with GD referring to the healthcare center of Varamin, Tehran, Iran, in 2015 using a pretest-posttest design. The study population was selected through available sampling method and randomly assigned into two groups of 20 cases. The experimental group was subjected to eight 80-minute sessions of SGT. The two study groups filled out the World Health Organization’s quality of life and the Cattell’sanxiety questionnaires. The data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance method using SPSS version 19.Results: According to the results, there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of the anxiety and quality of life (P<0.01). In other words, SGT significantly led to the reduction of anxiety and enhancement of quality of life among the women with GD.Conclusion: As the findings of the present study indicated, the SGT method had a significant role in the reduction of anxiety and improvement of the quality of life. Therefore, the counselors and therapists are suggested to use the SGT method to decrease anxiety and increase quality of life.

Background and Purpose: Marital commitment is an important concept in family stability and health. The present study was conducted with the aim of predicting marital commitment based on sexual satisfaction, spiritual well-being, and mediatory role of responsibility among the married students studying at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili in Ardabil, Iran.Materials and Methods: This descriptive correlational study was conducted on the married female students living in the dormitories of the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili during 2015-2016. Out of 360 dormitory students, 150 subjects were selected using convenience sampling technique. Eventually, 126 questionnaires were analyzed. The data were collected using Marital Commitment Questionnaire, Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire, Spiritual Well-being Scale, and Responsibility Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed by Pearson correlation and path analysis in SPSS version 23 and Amos version 23.Results: According to the results, marital commitment had a direct relationship with sexual satisfaction, spiritual well-being, and responsibility, rendering path coefficients of 0.60, 0.43, and 0.12, respectively. Spiritual health with the mediatory role of responsibility indirectly predicted marital commitment (P<0.05). However, sexual satisfaction with the mediatory role of responsibility failed to predict marital commitment (P>0.05).Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that sexual satisfaction, spiritual well-being, and responsibility play an important role in marital commitment; therefore, they should be taken into account.

Background and Purpose: Currently, the main objectives of psychology are alleviating anxiety and hopelessness and evaluating the role of spirituality in promoting life expectancy and reducing anxiety. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a Quran-based religious-cognitive training program on reducing pensioners’ anxiety and hopelessness in Torbat-e Jam.Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population included 102 army retirees in Torbate-e-jam, who were selected using the convenience sampling method. Both groups filled out the anxiety and hopelessness subscales of the Identity Crisis Questionnaire (ICQ). Then, 40 subjects obtaining the highest scores were randomly selected and assigned to two groups of 20 (experimental and control). The experimental group received ten 90-minute sessions of religious-cognitive training based on Quran verses. After the intervention, a post-test was taken from both groups. To analyze the data, covariance analysis was used in SPSS 20.Results: The research hypothesis was confirmed and religious cognitive training based on Quran verses was influential on the pensioners’ hopelessness and anxiety.Conclusion: Quran-based religious-cognitive training (verses related to purpose and finding meaning in life) enhanced hopefulness and assuaged anxiety in the experimental group.

Background and Purpose: Depression is one of the primary causes of disability and one of the most prevalent psychological disorders, which imposes heavy costs on societies and individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of spiritual well-being and hope in predicting depression in paramedical students.Materials and Methods: In this correlational study, the study population was the paramedical students studying at Shahroud Branch of Islamic Azad University during the second semester of the 2014-15 academic year. From among them, 243 subjects were selected through random cluster sampling method. The data collection instruments included Dehshiri’s Spiritual Well-being questionnaire, Snyder’s Hope Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory.Results: The results showed a negative relationship between the predictor and criterion variables; such that, depression reduced with enhanced hope and spiritual well-being. In addition, the results of multiple regression indicated that agency thinking and self-relationship were significant predictors of depression.Conclusion: In order to prevent depression and boost spiritual wellbeing as an indicator of mental health among paramedical students, implementing programs based on spiritual well-being and hope could act as a protective factor.

Background and Purpose: Spiritual attitude is one of the components of psychology, which plays a crucial role in emotion regulation. This study sought to evaluate the role of spiritual orientation in predicting cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.Materials and Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted on 247 students (including 119 males and 128 females) of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The subjects were selected through random cluster sampling method in 2014. Data were collected using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) and the spiritual intelligence questionnaire developed by Shahidi and Farajnia in 2012. Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression in SPSS, version 23.Results: There was a significant correlation between the spiritual and intellectual capacities with emotion regulation (r=0.35, P<0.001). Based on the results of regression analysis, two subscales of spiritual intelligence and attitude significantly predicted the positive cognitive emotion regulation (R2=0.12, b=0.24). However, only the spiritual attitude could significantly predict the negative cognitive emotion regulation (R2=0.11, b=0.31).Conclusion: Spiritual attitude could play an important role in making more efficient cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and the students with stronger spiritual attitude were able to regulate their emotions more effectively.

Ever-increasing progress in the development of medical sciences has provided new insights into the treatment methods. Xenotransplantation is one of these novel methods, which could be a solution for numerous problems caused by the shortage of organs donation. This descriptive analytical study sought to assess this issue from the perspective of jurisprudence and law viewpoints. After assessing foregoing issues, we concluded that such treatment is permitted. According to the literature, the problems of this type of transplantation have been resolved by discovering new medicines and performing numerous studies. From the perspective of jurisprudence, considering the principles of lā ḍarar (no harm) and ḍarūrat (necessities render the prohibited acts permissible), this modality of treatment is permitted. It is worth mentioning that xenotransplantation is allowed regarding the legal and ethical obligations.

In the recent decades, medicinal plants have become the most attractive medical issues, which produces numerous natural materials. Some of them have therapeutic effects, while the others are associated with several adverse effects. In Quran, 16 plants and fruits, such as garlic (Allium sativum) and onion (Allium cepa) are directly and indirectly cited.Furthermore, the nutritional and therapeutic properties of these plants are mentioned in the Islamic narrations and traditional medicine. This study aimed to review confirmed pharmaceutical and biological features of these plants. In this non-systematic review, data were collected using convenient scientific databases, such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Iranmedex, Magiran, Ovid, and ISI, in addition to Quran, Islamic narrations, and valid books about herbal medicine. Nowadays, the therapeutic effects of onion and garlic are discovered, which confirmed the hypothesis of traditional medicine and Islamic narrations about these plants. The extracts of these plants affect the cardiovascular diseases due to reducing the plasma lipid and homocysteine levels, as well as being antihypertensive, antithrombotic, and antidiabetic. Additionally, they act as antibiotics (against viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasital), anti-cancers, anti-inflammatories, antimetabolic diseases, and antiemetics. Moreover, these plants play an important role in promoting the immune system and affect the adverse effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea and vomiting. Therefore, it is recommended to add these plants or their products to daily diet.