Religiosity and Healthy Behaviors in Seventh-day Adventist Church Members in Peru: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Introduction: Research on religiosity and healthy behaviors has been conducted mainly in developed countries; however, the Latin American context remains unexplored. This study examined the association between religiosity and healthy behaviors in members of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church in different regions of Peru. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between June and November 2022. The sample included 767 members of the SDA Church. Information was collected on sociodemographic characteristics and healthy behaviors such as physical activity, adequate sleep, among others. The Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) was used to measure religiosity. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between DUREL subscales and healthy behaviors. Women represented 59.7% ( n = 458) of the sample. Results: Higher scores on the religiosity subscales (organized religiosity [ORA], non-ORA, and intrinsic religiosity [IR]) were associated with >20 years of baptism in the SDA Church, receiving a pastoral visit ≥3 times during the past year, performing physical activity 3 to 4 times and ≥5 times/week, sleeping 7 to 9 h/day, attend training on healthy eating, healthy lifestyle seminars, and on 8 health practices promoted by the SDA Church. High IR was less likely in men. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that religiosity has a strong association with healthy behaviors, and that this relationship suggests that religiosity could be considered as a predictor of healthy behaviors.