TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ring, Raphaela M.
A1  - Eisenmann, Clemens
A1  - Kandil, Farid
A1  - Steckhan, Nico
A1  - Demmrich, Sarah
A1  - Klatte, Caroline
A1  - Kessler, Christian S.
A1  - Jeitler, Michael
A1  - Boschmann, Michael
A1  - Michalsen, Andreas
A1  - Blakeslee, Sarah B.
A1  - Stöckigt, Barbara
A1  - Stritter, Wiebke
A1  - Koppold-Liebscher, Daniela A.
T1  - Mental and behavioural responses to Bahá’í fasting: Looking behind the scenes of a religiously motivated intermittent fast using a mixed methods approach
JF  - Nutrients
N2  - Background/Objective: Historically, fasting has been practiced not only for medical but also for religious reasons. Baha'is follow an annual religious intermittent dry fast of 19 days. We inquired into motivation behind and subjective health impacts of Baha'i 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 Baha'i 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: Baha'i 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.
KW  - intermittent food restriction
KW  - mindfulness
KW  - self-efficacy
KW  - well-being
KW  - mixed methods
KW  - health behaviour
KW  - coping ability
KW  - religiously motivated
KW  - dry fasting
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14051038
SN  - 2072-6643
VL  - 14
IS  - 5
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  -