Spirituality
The positive effects on health
The positive effects of religion include less physical illness and depression, lower mortality rates and a reduction in risky health-related behaviors. Several studies indicate that people with strong religious and spiritual beliefs heal faster from surgery, are less anxious and depressed, have lower blood pressure, and cope better with chronic illness (e.g., cancer).
Religious participation is consistently found to be associated with lower prevalence of physical illness and there is some evidence that religious participation affects the course and outcome of disease. Furthermore, longitudinal studies have demonstrated that "attending religious service is associated with decreased risk of the onset of disability." Religious participation is also associated with decreased prevalence of most common illness and there is limited evidence that religious participation decreases the risk of the onset of clinically-significant depression. Research also suggests that recovery from depression is improved by religious involvement.
Given the positive effects on physical and mental health, it is not surprising that there is a positive effect on mortality. The typical research finding is that regular religious attendance increases life expectancy 7-8 years. Furthermore, the research suggests that attending religious services has more positive effects on longevity than participation in community organizations and volunteerism.
Why does religious participation have these positive effects on health and mortality? From a social scientist perspective, the answer is that it is "likely to have such an effect because there are so many different pathways for it, through the modification of known health risk factors, the provision of social support, and the availability of belief systems for coping with adverse circumstances and reducing depression in late life." Religion provides purpose and ritual to lives. One area that has not been adequately researched is how a sense of spirituality contributes to well-being not tied to those pathways of health, financial and social support.
Research suggests that spirituality and religion may play a bigger role in the healing process than previously believed by the medical community. Spirituality elicits a relaxation response (slowed heartbeat, lower blood pressure, and reduction in stress and anxiety), which has been regarded as a factor that improves quality of life. Studies have shown a positive relationship between spirituality and health outcomes resulting from the beliefs, attitudes and practices that play an important role in how people deal with the world and events in their lives. Spiritual activities such as prayer and being prayed for are now acknowledged as factors that may reduce the sense of isolation and increase a person's sense of control over illness or disease. Characteristics such as faith, hope, and forgiveness, and the use of prayer and social supports have noticeable effects on health and healing.
Updated: November 2, 2007
