Religion and Health
Year:2020 | Volume:7 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:8

Background and Purpose: Breast cancer, which accounts for a high mortality rate due to cancer, is the most common cancer in females. Since this disease has negative effects on life, it can lead to depression. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship of attachment styles to God and depression in females suffering from breast cancer with death anxiety as a mediator. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study included all women with breast cancer referring to Mahdieh Medical Clinic, as well as Imam Khomeini, Firoozgar, and Pars hospitals in 2017. The sample size was determined at 397 people using Cochrane formula and a convenience sampling method. The participants were then asked to complete the Beck Depression Inventory (2001), God Attachment Questionnaire by Rowat and Kirkpatrick (2002), and Templar’ s Death Anxiety Questionnaire (1979). The data were analyzed in smart PLS software through structural equation modeling. Results: According to the results, the quality of attachment to God and death anxiety can predict depression among the females suffering from breast cancer (P<0. 05). It was also found that death anxiety as a mediator can mediate the relationship between attachment styles to God and depression (P<0. 05). Conclusion: It is concluded that any attachment to God reduces the level of depression in females with breast cancer, whereas death anxiety leads to an increase in the levels of depression. Therefore, it is suggested that these two factors be taken into consideration by the medical staff in complementary interventions.

Background and Purpose: Children and adolescents are vital to the future of every country. Therefore, meeting their health-related needs would increase the likelihood of adults' healthy and deserved life in the future. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between religious attitude and nutritional behavior in high school students in Yazd, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 students in Yazd (250 female and 250 male). They were selected by random sampling method and in proportion to the number of students in each school in the academic year of 2018. The data collection tool included Sarajzadeh's religious attitudes questionnaire and Standard Nutritional Behavior questioner. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Mean and standard deviation of religious attitude and nutritional behavior of participants were reported as 72. 25± 4. 67 and 75. 55± 3. 14, respectively. The results were indicative of a positive correlation between religious attitude and nutritional behavior (P=0. 00; R=0. 88). Nonetheless, no significant relationship was observed between religious attitudes and economic status (0. 04). In the same vein, nutritional behavior showed no significant relationship with gender (0. 03). Conclusion: From the results presented in the current study, it can be concluded that the higher religious attitude leads to more favorable nutritional behavior. Therefore, it seems that the propagation and implementation of religious orders and rituals can help improve the nutritional behavior of adolescents in society.

Background and Purpose: Nowadays, thanks to the advancement and expansion of health science, the number of elderly people is growing worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the psychological wellbeing of this population by increasing the levels of spirituality, social support, and optimism. In this regard, the present study aimed to predict the psychological wellbeing of elderly people based on spirituality, social support, and optimism. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted based on a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population of this study included all elderly residents living in District-1 in Rasht, Iran, during 2018. In total, 300 individuals were selected by the convenience sampling method. The data were collected using the 18-item Ryff's psychological well-being scale (Ryff, 1989), Persian and Dunning’ s spirituality questionnaire (Persian and Dunning, 2009), Social Support Survey (Sherburne and Stewart, 1991), and revised version of the Life Orientation Test (Scheier and Carver, 1985). Moreover, the data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) through the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Results: According to the results, the psychological wellbeing of the elderly people correlated significantly with spirituality, social support, and optimism (P<0. 001). Moreover, the results of multiple regression analysis revealed that spirituality, social support, and optimism predicted 54% of the psychological wellbeing of the elderly people. Conclusion: In this regard, it is probable to improve the psychological wellbeing of the elderly people through achieving spirituality, providing social support, and increasing the level of optimism in life.

Anthropology is one of the branches of human sciences that recently has been under attention of the psychologists. The purpose of this paper was to compare the fundamental concepts of mental health from Adler's point of view with traits of virtue individuals in Nahj-Ol-Balagheh. The method of gathering information was library and the research method was descriptive of the analytical type. The traits of virtue individuals mentioned in the faithful sermon, such as hope, moderation, forgiveness, and humility, are closely related to fundamental concepts of mental health from Adler's point of view (social interest, life-style, and finalism). Virtue is closely related to psychological concepts such as inhibition, education, and selfcontrol; Most important psychological variables and concepts that playing the crucial role in the mental health of an individual. The findings of this study showed that what is mentioned in Nahj-Ol-Balagheh as traits of the virtue individuals is related to the concept of mental health from Adler's point of view and many of these traits are comparable with the concepts mentioned in Adler's approach (such as awareness of your behavior and speech with self-awareness). This relationship is due to how one perceives oneself, others, and the world; how he interacts to them; and the considerations that he considers in his behavior. It is concluded that the more a person possesses the traits of the virtue individuals, the more he / she will possess mental health.

Various healthcare guidelines are presented in Islamic tradition regarding human health, one of which is about hair care. The current study aimed to analyze the cleaning and washing approach in hair care with cleansers, such as Henna, Cedrus, Hibiscus, and Katam (Buxus dioica) and their curative and hygienic role. In addition, some dimensions of the medical instructions of the narratives concerning hair cleansers and their influence on healthcare are investigated. This content analysis was completed by referring to the authentic hadith books, namely Al-Kafi and Wasa’ el al-Shi’ ah and extracting the hadiths about hair care and hair cleansers. The basics of hair care and health in these hadiths were assessed. Our findings demonstrated that cleansers, including Henna, Cedrus, Hibiscus, and Katam (Buxus dioica) which are emphasized in the hadiths, in addition to their cleansing properties, contain natural ingredients that diminish the feeling of sadness in an individual. These materials play a sedative role interpreted as the eliminator of the evil temptations in Islamic traditions. Medical hadiths concerning hair cleansers contain instructions about spiritual and hygienic interventions in hair care and health. It seems that using such detergents and promoting their application can be effective in elevating the physical and mental health of the community and reducing medication costs.

Background and Purpose: Religious sources, such as the Holy Quran, Nahjul Balā gha, and Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya play a significant role in the promotion of religious thoughts and development of health sciences. The present study aimed to determine the rate of the usage of verses and narrations (religious sources) in the compilation of studies and projects of the Environmental Health Engineering. Materials and Methods: The present quantitative research was conducted using a researcher-made checklist to review and survey research projects of Environmental Health students of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran, within 2010-2016. In addition, the abstracts of presented articles in Environmental Health conferences from 16 consecutive years were included in the current research. Results: A review of 2, 711 sources from 121 studies showed that a total of 11(9. 1%) reports used religious sources, such as the Holy Quran and Nahjul Balā gha. Out of 2, 928 abstracts presented in the Environmental Health Conferences, five studies (0. 1% of the total articles) were published in relation to the verses and narrations. Conclusion: Although keywords and topics with regard to Environmental Health are abundant in religious sources, the compilation of scientific research articles using these sources are scarce. Therefore, it is recommended to involve interdisciplinary studies experts and hold research workshops focusing on understanding the concepts and searching techniques for Environmental Health-related topics in Islamic sources.

'Ali ibn al-'Abbas al-Mağ ū sī , one of the prominent physician during Bū yid dynasty (also called Buwayhid), lived between the lifetime of Razes and Avicenna the two legendary characters of medicine. He wrote a medical encyclopedia for the royal library of Aḍ ud al-Dawla (949-983) and named it Kā mil al-Ṣ inā ʿ a al-Ṭ ibbī ya (i. e., complete medical art). This book could be considered the first medical compendium scientifically written during the Islamic era because it criticizes the prior books and justifies the necessity of the present work (i. e., Kā mil Al-Ṣ inā ʻ a Al-Ṭ ibbī ya). The first Latin translation of this book has been performed by Constantine the African in the 11th century under the name of Liber Pantegni. He did not mention the real author's name and attributed it to himself. He removed all signs in the book that could have any reference to its origin (as he did in other cases). Despite this immoral act and in addition to all studies carried out during the last two centuries regarding the Constantine plagiarism, the present study presented clear evidence on the denomination of meninges indicating that Liber Pantegni is, in fact, Kā mil Al-Ṣ inā ʻ a Al-Ṭ ibbī ya.

The present study aimed to investigate the health status and its dimensions in the Islamic teachings by reviewing their scientific sources. Databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Islamic World Science Citation Database, and scientific information database were searched for keywords, such as Islam, religion, health, prevention, and especially "Health + Islam" and "Health + Islam" within 2000-2017. A total of 245 articles were selected and their abstracts were studied. Thereafter, a survey was performed on the content of 131 papers. Finally, 28 studies with their sources were categorized and examined. According to the findings of the current study, all four dimensions of health, including physical, mental, social, and spiritual health according to WHO definition were present in the Islamic school of thought. The results of the present study showed that Islam is a health-based religion and human societies can maintain their health and well-being in the light of Islam and its religious teachings.