Relationship Between Dietary Self-Efficacy and Religiosity Among Seventh-Day Adventists in Peru

Abstract

Background Most of the studies involving members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA) have been conducted in the United States and Canada. Aim The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between dietary self-efficacy and religiosity among SDA members in Peru. Methods In this online cross-sectional study, 403 participants aged 18 to 59 years selected by convenience were included. The data collected included sociodemographic information. In addition, the Dietary Self-Efficacy Scale (DIET-SE) and the Duke University Index of Religion (DUREL) were administered. A correlation analysis was performed and multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between religiosity, dietary self-efficacy, and sociodemographic variables. Results Dietary self-efficacy was significantly negatively correlated with all dimensions of religiosity, ie, organized religious activities (ORA), non-organized religious activities (NORA), and intrinsic religiosity (IR). In addition, participants had high dietary self-efficacy and religiosity. Conclusion Although religiosity dimensions did not significantly predict dietary self-efficacy, however, the non-organized religious activities dimension was the strongest predictor of dietary self-efficacy among Adventists in Peru. The present study will serve as a basis for future research to further investigate the potential positive effect of religiosity on the improvement a healthy diet and possible changes in the physical and mental health of the population.

Psychometric Analysis of a Measure of Spiritual Experiences in Peruvian Adults

“…Spirituality has been related in the health literature as an element that contributes to people's mental and physical well-being (Saintila et al, 2022). Similarly, spirituality has been described as a protective factor against alcohol abuse in the young adult population (Haber et al, 2012).…”

“…Research on spirituality has increased considerably in the last decade, generally focusing on the study of the association between religiosity/spirituality and health (Koenig et al, 2012), evidence that religious involvement is associated with healthy behaviors (Saintila et al, 2022), and better physical and mental health outcomes (Abu et al, 2018).…”

Intake of foods high in saturated fats, vegetarian dietary pattern, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with body weight in Peruvian university students

“…However, in order to contextualize the fact that there is a higher proportion of male vegetarians in the current study, it is important to consider several sociocultural factors that could influence the choice of a vegetarian diet. For example, an aspect to consider is the availability and accessibility of vegetarian options in the environment, as the university where the study took place is part of the SDA Church, a religious denomination whose health philosophy focuses on the consumption of plant-based foods ( 65 ). As vegetarian options become more varied and accessible in certain settings, more men may be inclined to try this type of diet.…”