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Some Pre-Roman humans were buried with dogs, horses and other animals

A study of human-animal co-burials from ancient Italy suggests that the practice may have been related to enduring companion relationships or religious beliefs. Researchers found that the people buried with animals did not share common traits, leaving multiple interpretations for this phenomenon.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 14, 2024

New research suggests ‘religiosity’ can help Black teenagers avoid delinquent behavior

A recent study by Case Western Reserve University researchers found that Black teenagers who are more involved in religious activities are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior. The study suggests that religiosity acts as a protective factor for positive behavioral outcomes.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalJournal of Religion and Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 27, 2023

Study examines role of religion in substance use services, finds it's often located in racially diverse communities

A study by University of Kansas and Georgetown University found that facilities with more religious orientation offered a wider range of services and were located in racially diverse communities. This can help service providers make better referrals and provide a roadmap for other communities to better understand their substance use se...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalJournal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work Social Thought·TypeSurvey·DateSep 5, 2023

Study examines struggles of Haitian migrants self-managing diabetes on Dominican Republic sugar cane fields

A new study from the University of Missouri found that poverty, low health literacy, cultural beliefs, lack of infrastructure, and political issues hinder diabetes self-management for Haitian migrants. The researchers suggest targeted interventions, such as community gardens and healthcare education through local priests.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalThe Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care·TypeSurvey·DateJul 26, 2023

New methods for ancient texts

MagEIA, a new Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, will research magical text traditions of the ancient Near East, Egypt, and neighbouring regions. The project aims to develop new methods of textual analysis and models of cross-cultural comparison.

Climate and geography develop spiritual connections between giant trees and human beings

A macroecological study found that giant tree properties, such as trunk circumference and age, are strongly correlated with climatic factors. The probability of a tree being an object of faith tends to increase with lower annual precipitation, highlighting the impact of climate change on spiritual ecosystem services.

SourceNational Institute for Environmental Studies·JournalNature Plants·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 21, 2023

Regenstrief-led study shows enhanced spiritual care improves well-being of ICU surrogate decision-makers

A Regenstrief-led study found that enhanced spiritual care for family members of ICU patients resulted in a clinically significant decline in anxiety and improved spiritual well-being. The study demonstrated the importance of chaplains to the long-term psychological health of surrogate decision-makers.

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalJournal of Pain and Symptom Management·DateFeb 8, 2023

Power of the pulpit

A University of Houston study suggests that attending religious services regularly can lead to lower mortality rates among Black men in their 50s and older. The study found that these men who attended services at least once weekly had better health profiles, including lower rates of smoking and drinking.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateSep 29, 2022

Evangelical Christians were less likely to get COVID-19 vaccine after conversations with faith leaders

A VCU-led study found that evangelical Christians who sought information from their religious leaders were less likely to get vaccinated, while those who spoke with a health care provider were more likely. The study highlights the influence of faith-based and healthcare providers on vaccine decision-making.

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateSep 28, 2022

Religious practices, spirituality associated with higher levels of heart health among African Americans

A research study of African Americans with cardiovascular disease found that higher levels of religious practices and spirituality are associated with greater likelihood of intermediate or ideal levels of heart health. Specifically, private prayer was linked to better diet and smoking habits, while nontheistic spirituality was associat...

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateAug 24, 2022

Spirituality linked with better health outcomes, patient care

A study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital found that incorporating spirituality into care can lead to healthier lives, including greater longevity and quality of life. The researchers recommend increasing awareness among clinicians about the protective benefits of spiritual community particip...

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalJAMA·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 12, 2022

The most boring person in the world discovered by University of Essex research

Researchers found data analysis, accounting, cleaning, and banking to be the most boring jobs, while religion, watching TV, and bird watching were among the dullest hobbies. Stereotypically boring people are often disliked and avoided due to preconceptions, leading to social ostracization and increased loneliness.

SourceUniversity of Essex·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·TypeSurvey·DateMar 18, 2022

Christians, Jews and Muslims experience workplace discrimination differently, new Rice research shows

A new study from Rice University finds that two-thirds of Muslims, half of Jews and more than a third of evangelical Protestant Christians experience workplace discrimination in different ways. Muslims and Jews feel targeted by anti-Islamic and antisemitic rhetoric, while Christians are perceived as judgmental for taking moral stances.

SourceRice University·JournalSocius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World·TypeObservational study·DateMar 11, 2022

Women want to work, despite workforce precarity

A new study by Cornell University's Landon Schnabel found that women are now as likely as men to report working because they want to, not just out of necessity. The gender gap in preferring to work is closing, except for pockets of the most religiously active Americans.

SourceCornell University·JournalSociological Science·DateMar 9, 2022

Publication of 500-year-old manuscript exposes medieval beliefs and religious cults

A 500-year-old English illuminated manuscript provides fresh insights into Catholic beliefs in England before the Reformation. The metre-long prayer roll contains religious verse and illustrations, including symbols of Christ's crucifixion, which were connected to a famous pilgrimage site.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of the British Archaeological Association·TypeContent analysis·DateOct 25, 2021

Mapping the brain circuitry of spirituality

A new study has identified the periaqueductal gray as a critical hub for changes in spiritual identification, surprising researchers who previously thought it was associated with higher brain regions. The discovery could have significant implications for understanding spirituality's role in managing physical and emotional pain.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 31, 2021

Colleges fall short on mental health outreach to Asian, Latino students

A recent study reveals that colleges struggle to provide adequate mental health support to Asian and Latino students due to interdependent cultural values and shame. The study suggests that culturally tailored treatment services addressing these issues can improve help-seeking behaviors.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 9, 2021

Streetonomics: using street names to quantify a city's cultural values

A study using street names to quantify cultural indicators found that Vienna honors the most women (54%), followed by London (40%). Paris and New York have lower proportions, with many streets named after people from the 1860s. Street names also reflect professions and professions held by street honorees, such as artists, writers, and ...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 30, 2021

Religious participation makes both old and young more likely to trust their neighbors and donate to charity

A new study found that religious participation increases social trust among both millennials and older adults, with those attending church more likely to donate to charity. The research also shows that younger generations can benefit from intergenerational interactions with their elders, who tend to have more social capital.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalThe Sociological Review·DateJun 17, 2021