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Does Religion Lower Stress Levels?
The Higher Education Research Institute of the University of California at Los Angeles performed a study about the effect of religion on the stress level of college students. They learned by studying 3,680 third-year college students at 46 colleges and universities that going to church can be good for your mental health.
Non-churchgoing students were more than twice as likely to report feeling depressed than those who attend services frequently.
12% fewer students who attend worship, join campus religious groups, and reading sacred texts report high levels of psychological distress. These were measured in terms of feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or stressed.
How about you? How does your religion affect the way you deal with stress?
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Dear Lela,
Interesting post! All things being equal (a familiar "cop-out" used by academics!), I agree with the UCLA findings regarding the relationship between religion ans stress. I would add that, besides "going to church," an authentic commitment to a religious denomination, spiritual practice, or faith-based tradition supports people in the quest for what my mentor, Viktor Frankl, referred to as "ultimate meaning." Some call it connection to a higher self, to God, to our own spirit, to universal consciousness, to love, to the collective good. No matter what it is called, it is deep meaning, it transforms our lives, and, yes, it can reduce stress. NOTE: in the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that, at one point in my life, I was on my way to becoming ordained as a Greek Orthodox priest. Although I did pursue an alternative path, I still consider myself an Orthodox Christian.
Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
Author of Prisoners of Our Thoughts:
Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work
Email: alex@prisonersofourthoughts.com
Web: www.prisonersofourthoughts.com