Healthy Aging in a Religious Congregation: A Study About Lifestyles and Health Behaviors Among Consecrated Women in Poland and Other Countries

Background: The relationship between religiosity and health has been a topic of interest to researchers for many years, especially in the context of the potential positive impact of religion on individual health. A significant correlation between religious affiliation and well-being has been observed among individuals residing in religious communities. The shared lifestyle and values enable analysis of the impact of spirituality on health. Methods: The present study aimed to examine the lifestyle of consecrated persons in relation to variables such as nationality, country of ministry, age, and length of time in the community. Furthermore, it sought to ascertain the extent to which community members self-assess their well-being within the context of community life and identify potential areas that require support. Results: The survey was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire, which was available in electronic (n = 443) and paper (n = 20) format, depending on the participants’ locations in Poland and abroad. A total of 463 religious women representing 22 different nationalities and serving in 34 countries participated in the survey. The respondents frequently said a balanced diet, rest, and activity are important for good health. On average, 57% of the participants (n = 264) said their lifestyle was healthy, with the most responses coming from women aged 65 and over (73%). This could be due to a positive attitude towards healthy behaviors, regular exercise, better stress coping, and lower depression symptoms. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Participants of non-Polish nationality who live outside Poland perceived their lifestyle as healthy significantly more often than Polish nationals and those living in Poland. The study shows that religiosity and spirituality may improve subjective health assessments, especially among the elderly, which could be the basis for research on wider populations.