Volume 12, Issue 2 (Summer 2025)
J Prevent Med 2025, 12(2): 209-220 |
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Zareei F, Zare M, Soleimani Ahmadi M. The role of spirituality in promoting mental and physical health: A review of evidence, mechanisms, and clinical implications. J Prevent Med 2025; 12 (2) :209-220
URL: http://jpm.hums.ac.ir/article-1-891-en.html
URL: http://jpm.hums.ac.ir/article-1-891-en.html
1- Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
2- Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Research Institute for Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
3- Professor of Medical Entomology and Vector Control Department of Biology and Vector Control, Department of Public Health, Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Research Institute for Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
2- Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Research Institute for Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
3- Professor of Medical Entomology and Vector Control Department of Biology and Vector Control, Department of Public Health, Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Research Institute for Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Abstract: (1049 Views)
Abstract
Introduction: In recent decades, the concept of health has evolved from a purely biomedical perspective to a multidimensional model encompassing physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Given the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and psychological pressures in modern societies, understanding the role of spirituality in maintaining and promoting health is of particular importance. This review study examines the association between spirituality and mental and physical health in the general population.
Information Sources or Data: This article is a narrative review based on a search conducted in reputable international databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and also Google Scholar.
Selection Methods for Study: The main search keywords included spirituality, spiritual health, mental health, physical health, and quality of life. The search was restricted to articles published between the years 1990 and 2026.
Combine Content and Results: The collected evidences clearly demonstrate that spirituality has a strong, positive, and statistically significant association with various capacities of mental and physical health. In the domain of mental health, spirituality is significantly associated with a reduction in anxiety, symptoms of major depression, and the subjective perception of daily stress. In the domain of physical health, multiple epidemiological evidences indicate a positive association between higher levels of spirituality and improvement in specific physiological indicators.
Conclusion: Spirituality plays a real and multidimensional role in improving mental and physical health. Accordingly, spirituality, as an important protective factor in health, can be utilized in preventive medicine and health promotion programs.
Introduction: In recent decades, the concept of health has evolved from a purely biomedical perspective to a multidimensional model encompassing physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Given the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and psychological pressures in modern societies, understanding the role of spirituality in maintaining and promoting health is of particular importance. This review study examines the association between spirituality and mental and physical health in the general population.
Information Sources or Data: This article is a narrative review based on a search conducted in reputable international databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and also Google Scholar.
Selection Methods for Study: The main search keywords included spirituality, spiritual health, mental health, physical health, and quality of life. The search was restricted to articles published between the years 1990 and 2026.
Combine Content and Results: The collected evidences clearly demonstrate that spirituality has a strong, positive, and statistically significant association with various capacities of mental and physical health. In the domain of mental health, spirituality is significantly associated with a reduction in anxiety, symptoms of major depression, and the subjective perception of daily stress. In the domain of physical health, multiple epidemiological evidences indicate a positive association between higher levels of spirituality and improvement in specific physiological indicators.
Conclusion: Spirituality plays a real and multidimensional role in improving mental and physical health. Accordingly, spirituality, as an important protective factor in health, can be utilized in preventive medicine and health promotion programs.
Type of Study: Review |
Subject:
Health Professional
Received: 2025/04/30 | Accepted: 2025/08/5 | Published: 2026/05/19
Received: 2025/04/30 | Accepted: 2025/08/5 | Published: 2026/05/19
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