that religiously active adults displayed lower blood pressures and were more compliant

with prescribed medication. Additionally, they observed a racial difference. The authors

found that although black religious males had higher blood pressures than white religious

males, they were more compliant with medication use for blood pressure control.

 Recent research has examined spirituality and functional ability during

rehabilitation. Kim, Heinemann, Bode, Sliwa, & King (2000) examined spirituality using

an intrinsic Judeo-Christian scale of well-being and functional variables among patients

in a rehabilitation hospital. Intrinsic religiousness is defined as the individual's

internalizing a religious belief and living the belief. Individual spirituality scores though

high were not associated with variables of functional recovery such as mobility, and self-

care. Fitchett, Rybarcyk, DeMarco, and Nicholas (1999) found similar results in

postoperative rehabilitation. There was a high degree of spirituality among their patients

who rated their health as poor or very poor. Using a questionnaire that measures church

affiliation, attendance, and spiritual behaviors, the authors were unable to confirm a

relationship between self-health assessment, spirituality, and church activities. Pressman,

Lyons, Larson, and Strain (1990) in a small study of postoperative female orthopedic

patients found significant correlation between church attendance, personal importance of

religion, degree of spirituality, and functional meters walked (r=0.45, df = 27, p<0.05).

This research found that postoperative orthopedic subjects with strong religious beliefs

and practices, and less depression had better ambulatory function at discharge. The

spirituality score was not significantly correlated with ambulatory status independent of

depression. The authors suggest that subjects who are spiritual respond more favorably

to physical therapy because they are less depressed. Hodges, Humphreys, and Eck