Studies Show Religion Benefits Mental Health

Scholars at BYU and Duke University reviewed over 1,150 studies from the Oxford University Press’s Handbook of Religion and Health. They tallied positive, negative, mixed, and null findings regarding religion and mental wellbeing.

The review revealed that beneficial associations between religion and mental health occur roughly ten times more often than harmful ones. Positive emotion and coping with stress showed the strongest connections, with a 26-to-1 and 12-to-1 advantage respectively.

The researchers found religion linked to lower addiction rates in 256 of 271 high-quality studies on substance abuse. In Utah and nationwide, religion appears to help prevent suicide eleven times more often than it hinders. Stable, faith-rooted homes correlate with stronger marriages and less adolescent substance use.

However, the evidence is mixed for conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, requiring clinical care. The study also acknowledges challenges for LGBTQ+ youth within some religious settings, but notes faith can still be protective. The work continues as scholars advocate for partnerships between clinicians and faith communities.