Religiosity and lifestyle of professionals from the family health support centers

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.20164003310318

Abstract

Religiosity is part of the completeness of the human being and can positively influence people’s lifestyle. This, in turn,
is associated with chronic noncommunicable diseases in Brazil and worldwide. From this context, the objective of this
study was to analyze the association between religiosity and lifestyle of health professionals from the Family Health
Support Centers (NASF). It is a descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study. Convenience sample have been
taken, in which 29 professionals answered two questionnaires: Religiosity Index “Duke-Durel” and Lifestyle “Fantastic”.
It was found with the studied group that the majority were female (69%, n = 20) and declared themselves Evangelicals
(79%, n = 23) with an average age of 31.7 (SD = 5.71). Participants had good religious involvement (59% or more) and
the lifestyle is “very good” (total score of 79.4) but are deficient in “physical activity” dimension with an average below
normal (2.93, range 0-8). Almost all of them claimed to have received approach on spirituality in academic school, and
had involvement in religious cults, considering the religious practice of great importance in their daily, personal and
professional life. It was concluded that none of the religious variables was statistically associated with lifestyle dimensions
or to their total score. However, there was an association between the variable “church attendance” and “to be or not
practitioner” of religion.