The Impact of Seventh-day Adventist Beliefs, Values, and Practices relative to Physical Activity

Aim

This thesis comprises three interconnected studies aimed at investigating the impact of Seventh-day Adventist (Adventist) values, beliefs, and practices on physical activity (PA). The research addresses the underexplored area of how religious values and beliefs influence health practices, specifically PA, within the Adventist church in the United Kingdom (UK).

Context and problem

The relationship between religion and health behaviors, particularly PA, is an underexplored area. The Adventist church promotes healthful living as a core principle, yet the influence of their religious values and beliefs on PA behaviors is not well understood. Understanding these dynamics can provide valuable information for developing effective health promotion strategies in religious contexts.

The aim and purpose

The primary aim of this research was to investigate how Adventist beliefs, values and practices influence attitudes towards and participation in PA. The purpose was to identify potential barriers and facilitators to PA within the Adventist community and to inform the development of tailored health promotion initiatives.

Research Design

A mixed-method approach was used in three studies:
Study 1: This qualitative phase involved semi-structured phenomenological interviews with Adventist church members in England and Wales. The objective was to explore how Adventist religious convictions shape attitudes toward incorporating PA as a health regimen.

Study 2: This quantitative phase utilised a questionnaire distributed to participants (n = 83) to examine the relationship between religiosity and PA. The aim was to determine if there was a correlation between religiosity scores and PA engagement.

Study 3: Focus groups were held with health leaders and pastors from the Adventist church to gather additional qualitative data. These discussions aimed to gain insight into the perspectives of church leaders on promoting PA within the Adventist church.

Findings

The findings of these studies provide crucial information on the relationship between religion, PA, and health promotion within the Adventist church.

Study 1: Highlighted the positive impact that pastors' involvement in PA can have on church members' attitudes toward PA, and the need for pastoral buy-in to health promotion, as well as a collaborative effort from health leaders and pastor.

Study 2: No significant relationship was found between religiosity and PA engagement, suggesting that other factors may influence PA behaviours more strongly than religiosity.

Study 3: Revealed tensions and challenges within the Adventist community regarding PA promotion, with pastors and health leaders acknowledging difficulties in aligning religious beliefs with PA behaviours.

Conclusions

Interviews and focus groups exposed a significant gap between pastors and health leaders, which hampers efforts to promote PA. Despite the lack of a direct link between religiosity and PA levels, the research underscores a notable disconnect between religious beliefs and PA behaviours. To address these challenges, the study recommends targeted leadership training and collaborations with health professionals to seamlessly integrate PA into the Adventist lifestyle. These efforts are crucial in developing effective health promotion strategies that overcome barriers to participation in PA within the Adventist church.

This research contributes to a better understanding of how faith-based values and beliefs impact health behaviours, providing a foundation for future health promotion initiatives in religious contexts.