Claire Opila

Religion, an encompassing and controversial topic by its very nature, plays various roles in many aspects of our lives. It serves as a source of reasoning behind politics, society, our beliefs and values and our actions. People may turn to their deity in times of hardship, or as a justification for performing good deeds. Missing from all of these different facets and uses though, is the possibility that religion serves a beneficial purpose for our health, specifically our mental health.

Recent research in the health sciences has begun to focus on correlations between mental health wellness and religiosity. Mental health, though it has no official definition, is defined by the World Health Organization as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” Many studies have examined the role of various forms of religious expression and action, but found personal spiritual beliefs and prayer to be the most significant source in maintaining and regaining psychological well being.

Since there is no one way to pray or one religious tradition to follow, Dr. Dossey, author of Prayer is Good Medicine, states it is, “The love and compassion that one brings to prayer [that] are extremely important. The scientific studies indicate that if these are not present, prayers have little or no effect.” Similarly, a study performed by Sheffield Hallam University found that people who prayed in a conversational and meditative manner were happier and healthier than people who prayed in a ritual and petitionary manner. Those who pray in a devout, relaxed way, truly believing the contents of their prayer, are mentally healthier than those who pray simply because religious doctrine demands it, or because they would like a personal favor from God. Further, conversational or meditative prayer, according to the University of Florida and Sheffield Hallam University, promotes lower depression and anxiety, better self-rated health, more social activity, fewer interpersonal problems, more positive feelings and a better ability to cope with stress and adversity.

How does prayer lead to psychological well being? According to Dr. Herbert Benson, a specialist in cardiovascular medicine at Harvard Medical School in the 1970s, all methods of prayer (contemplation, meditation, conversation, etc) result in what he calls the relaxation response in the body. It consists of a lowering of the heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate; a reduced need for oxygen; less carbon dioxide production; and so on. Since biological and physical states throughout the body and the brain are reflected in cognitive and psychological processes, an all-around healthier, relaxed physical state will promote psychological stability. From a cognitive perspective, prayer serves as a coping mechanism that enables us to handle the stressors of life. Stress is a very prominent cause of physical and mental illness, and thus the ability to handle stress decreases the likelihood of falling physically or mentally ill.

Even those who do happen to become mentally ill and are religious witness its benefits. In a study of psychiatric inpatients in Canada with a Beck depression score indicative of depression, those who worshiped more frequently had less severe depressive symptoms and a shorter length of stay at the psychiatric institution than those who worshipped less. Although they were ill, they were able to recover more quickly because their private religious practices and convictions served as a means of coping with the illness and provided them with a less volatile mental state to deal with from the start.

With such benefits, one might wonder: what about those who are not religious such as agnostics and atheists- are they less mentally healthy? While this question is a valid concern, one need not worry about the non-religious population. As Dr. Dossey states, “It is possible to pray without being religious, and one can be religious and not pray.” Agnostics, those who do not deny the existence of God but cannot ascertain that he exists, can pray much like Buddhists who meditate, but do not pray to a personal God. Although atheists do not pray in the conventional sense of the word, they can meditate and use other forms of deep contemplation. Hence, prayer done from personal conviction and internal spiritual beliefs, regardless of religious affiliation or method, proves to have a tangible connection with psychological health. Those who pray frequently are better able to cope with the stressors of life, and thus are less prone to anxiety and depression.

References

Baetz, Marilyn, et al. “Canadian psychiatric inpatient religious commitment: An association with mental health. .” The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry / La Revue canadienne de psychiatrie 47.2 (2002): 159-166. Psych Info. Web. 20 July 2009.

Contrada, Richard J., et al. “Psychosocial Factors in Outcomes of Heart Surgery: The Impact of Religious Involvement and Depressive Symptoms. .” Health Psychology 23.3 (2004): 227-238. Psych Info. Web. 27 July 2009.

Dossey, Larry. Prayer is Good Medicine. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 1996. Print.

“Prayer and Mental Health.” HEALL Health Education Alliiance for Life and Longevity. N.p., 2006. Web. 27 July 2009. .

Scott, M.S., Elizabeth. “Spirituality and Mental Health: Benefits of Spirituality.” About.com: Stress Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2009. .

“Seniors Use Prayer To Cope With Stress; Prayer No. 1 Alternative Remedy.” University of Florida News. N.p., 28 Dec. 2000. Web. 27 July 2009. .