# Religious Belief Among Women in Australia: Characteristics and Role in Influencing Children’s Health-Related Quality of Life and Lifestyle

## TL;DR

This study explores how religious beliefs of Australian women influence their children's health and lifestyle, finding positive effects on quality of life but mixed impacts on behavior.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how maternal religiosity affects children's health-related quality of life and lifestyle in Australia.

## Key findings

- Maternal religious involvement is linked to higher education levels and abstinence from binge drinking.
- Children of more religious mothers have better health-related quality of life and fewer school-work problems.
- Religious mothers' children use more internet/computer during the week but play fewer games on weekends.

## Abstract

Religiosity can be an important factor in women’s health-related behaviour, attitudes, and decision-making. Evidence however, regarding the religiosity of mothers and its influence on child health, is scarce. Based on a large population-based cohort in Australia, we aim to examine the religiosity of women in Australia and the association of maternal religiosity with children’s health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and lifestyle. Our findings indicate that (1) maternal religious involvement was higher for women with higher education levels, ascertained religious values in decision-making, and abstinence from binge drinking in the household, (2) maternal religiosity positively influenced their children’s HRQOL, (3) children of mothers who were more religious had less worries or fewer school-work problems, but the children of mothers with stronger religious beliefs used more internet/computer during the week but had less time playing games on weekends. This study provides additional specificity to inform future health interventions in religious community contexts to enhance the positive influence of maternal religious belief for better development of their children.