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Mental and behavioural responses to Bahá'í fasting: looking behind the scenes of a religiously motivated intermittent fast using a mixed methods approach

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Item Type:Article
Title:Mental and behavioural responses to Bahá'í fasting: looking behind the scenes of a religiously motivated intermittent fast using a mixed methods approach
Creators Name:Ring, R.M. and Eisenmann, C. and Kandil, F.I. and Steckhan, N. and Demmrich, S. and Klatte, C. and Kessler, C.S. and Jeitler, M. and Boschmann, M. and Michalsen, A. and Blakeslee, S.B. and Stöckigt, B. and Stritter, W. and Koppold-Liebscher, D.A.
Abstract:BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Historically, fasting has been practiced not only for medical but also for religious reasons. Bahá'ís follow an annual religious intermittent dry fast of 19 days. We inquired into motivation behind and subjective health impacts of Bahá'í fasting. METHODS: A convergent parallel mixed methods design was embedded in a clinical single arm observational study. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted before (n = 7), during (n = 8), and after fasting (n = 8). Three months after the fasting period, two focus group interviews were conducted (n = 5/n = 3). A total of 146 Bahá'í volunteers answered an online survey at five time points before, during, and after fasting. RESULTS: Fasting was found to play a central role for the religiosity of interviewees, implying changes in daily structures, spending time alone, engaging in religious practices, and experiencing social belonging. Results show an increase in mindfulness and well-being, which were accompanied by behavioural changes and experiences of self-efficacy and inner freedom. Survey scores point to an increase in mindfulness and well-being during fasting, while stress, anxiety, and fatigue decreased. Mindfulness remained elevated even three months after the fast. CONCLUSION: Bahá'í fasting seems to enhance participants' mindfulness and well-being, lowering stress levels and reducing fatigue. Some of these effects lasted more than three months after fasting.
Keywords:Intermittent Food Restriction, Mindfulness, Self-Efficacy, Well-Being, Mixed Methods, Health Behaviour, Coping Ability, Religiously Motivated Dry Fasting
Source:Nutrients
ISSN:2072-6643
Publisher:MDPI
Volume:14
Number:5
Page Range:1038
Date:28 February 2022
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14051038
PubMed:View item in PubMed

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