Faith - this did not necessarily have to do with religion. It was the fact that people actually believed in something - it might be football, beekeeping, birdwatching or any number of other things. They had something in their life that motivated them and about which they could be passionate. There was meaning beyond the day to day activities of survival. Of course it also included having faith in a religious way.
Fulfilment in their work. People who did something that gave them a sense of satisfaction and achievement. It doesn't seem to matter what their employment was. Fulfilment also links with the category above as some without paid employment find fulfilment through volunteering and other leisure activities.
Fellowship - people who are surrounded by friends, colleagues, or family who support, encourage, challenge and help them in many ways also get a health boost. There was no one type of fellowship which was better than others but there was clear evidence that one of the biggest negative factors working against good health was loneliness.
Freely giving - this is a bit of a stretch of a F word but it essentially means that people who act more generously than those who tend to act selfishly are likely to enjoy better health.
Unfortunately I don't have details of the sources of the research.
Perhaps he Christian church can use this research in a marketing and outreach strategy - I can imagine the slogans for the lapel badges - "Become a Christian and stay healthier and live longer" "Doctors prescribe faith as a cure!" I wonder what the advertising standards authority would say about that?
Image courtesy of domdeen / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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