Our findings suggest that spirituality may be protective of physical health. |
These findings are consistent with an emerging literature on the beneficial impact of faith and spirituality on health. |
We found that faith and spirituality were the key factors. The women with a strong sense of faith had significantly more variable heart rates than those who reported less spiritual well-being. In addition, the coping style most strongly associated with heart-rate variability was religious coping ? the use of prayer or meditation to cope with stress and find comfort. |