Studies have linked religiosity to better mental health. Psychology cannot make direct inferences about the presence of God, but measures of religion such as self-rated religiousness and spirituality on surveys, or number of religious services attended per week have been assessed and related to health outcomes, often indicating positive relationships.
Studies have found that religiousness was related to lower levels of depression in people with poor health and reduces stress and anxiety (Rettner, 2015). In the same line, attending religious services has been related to greater life satisfaction. Psychologists have suggested that religion can provide a sense of meaning and purpose in life and a supportive social network, both of which strengthen mental health (Moeller, 2012).
Holding a long term meditation practice was found to reduce blood pressure and lower levels of cortisol, a hormone that causes stress (Basu-Zharku, 2011). Religious services may produce feelings similar to those in meditation when they are focused on messages of positivity, such as love and gratitude
(Besser, 2013). Meditative prayer can additionally activate parts of the brain related to emotion and emotional control (Rettner, 2015).
Religious practice and prayer have also been related to multiple physical benefits. These benefits include better immune function, better cardiovascular health, higher white blood cell count, lower mortality rates, and lower occurrence of strokes (Basu-Zharku, 2011). It is thought that the reduction in stress that comes with regular religious practice is related to the beneficial health outcomes of religiosity (Moeller, 2012).
In fact, the relationship between religion and health specifically during Ramadan has been studied. Lipid peroxidation, a potentially damaging bodily process (Vasilaki & McMillan, n.d.), was studied in men before and after Ramadan. Researchers found that products of lipid peroxidation had decreased during the month of Ramadan (Basu-Zharku, 2011).
Research has also found higher rates of healthy lifestyle behaviours among people who report that they are more religious. These healthy lifestyle behaviours, in turn, are related to lower mortality rates due to circulatory, respiratory, digestive, or cancerous causes (Basu-Zharku, 2011).
There is an alternative side to the many positive mental and physical outcomes of religious beliefs and practices. Higher rates of depression and lower quality of life have been measured among those who hold negative religious beliefs. Negative beliefs, such as believing that a higher power is punishing, threatening or withdrawing from us, could cause negative health outcomes like higher stress (Rettner, 2015).
Overall, the impact of religion on health is strongly positive. However, opposite findings show that negative beliefs can flip this relationship. Whatever our beliefs may be, these findings indicate that positivity is a good first step towards good health.
References:
Basu-Zharku, I. (2011). The influence of religion on health.
Besser, R. (2013). Is religion good for your health?
Moeller, P. (2012). Why religion is linked with better health and well-being.
Rettner, R. (2015). God help us? How religion is good (and bad) for mental health.
Vasilaki, A. T., & McMillan, D. C. (n.d.). Lipid peroxidation.
