47 Health Benefits of Prayer - Part 3

By Andrew Newberg

Religious beliefs and activities can have a profound impact on our mental and physical well being by reducing stress, improving resistance to diseases, enhancing memory and mental function, and helping us to lead longer lives.

Many studies have looked at how health and well-being are influenced by having spiritual beliefs, praying, and attending religious services, and these have found a wide range of benefits. The Mind Health Report compiled a summary of these benefits.

16. Kids Doing Better in School

Kids who are involved in church activities have higher educational expectations and are likely to do better in math and reading. The National Survey of Children's Health found that school-aged children who attend religious services at least once a month are half as likely to repeat a grade than those who attend less frequently.

SOURCE: Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

22. Enhancing Satisfaction With Life

Helping others through one's religious activities increases satisfaction and improves one's outlook on life, according to a study of more than 2,000 church members located in various parts of the United States. Giving help brought about greater benefits than receiving help.

SOURCE: Psychosomatic Medicine

29. Improving Mood and Outlook

Numerous studies have found a strong connection between deeply held religious beliefs and less likelihood and incidence of depression. For example, a study of more than 600 middle-age and older adults, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, examined how both men and women experienced the influence of religious beliefs that protected them against symptoms of depression.

Researchers found that these were some of the protective experiences: "I feel God's presence," and "I feel comfort in my religion or spirituality:" Benefits were comparable for both men and women.

SOURCE: Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

30. Calming Anger

Anger not only detracts from human relationships but is also associated with increased health risks, because it puts our stress reaction into overdrive, can raise blood pressure, and if frequent or chronic, can damage the brain. Studies at Ohio State University have found that praying for the well-being of the person with whom one is angry, or even praying for someone else, calms anger and fosters positive emotions and attitudes, such as compassion, that improve overall health.

SOURCE: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

-- Full text of article: 47 Health Benefits of Prayer (12MB)

--Andrew Newberg is a founder of neurotheology, the study of the relationship between spiritual phenomena and the human brain.