Research shows mental and emotional advantages of religion

New research by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life has shown that Christian faith is more prone to make an individual joyful, stress free and have a way of community, than those with no faith in any respect.

In short, being Christian is sweet to your mental health.

The research found that 41 per cent of Christians had few regrets, in comparison with just 26 per cent of non-believers. The figures also suggested that Christians place a greater value on community, with 76 per cent saying that talking to others is significant, in comparison with 68 per cent of non-religious respondents.

Just under half (49 per cent) of Christians said that were unlikely to feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life and exhibited less anxiety, compared with 37 per cent of non-believers. An absence of hysteria was found to be more pronounced amongst regular churchgoers compared with those that only occasionally attend (lower than once a month).

Over three quarters (78 per cent) of Christians reported having a positive disposition during tough times, compared with 69 per cent of non-believers. When asked in the event that they believed that arduous times would pass, the same pattern emerged, with 79 per cent of Christians and 77 per cent of non-believers agreeing.

Non-believers were more prone to report an absence of energy and motivation (64 per cent) than Christians (55 per cent) and were also more liable to sadness (38 per cent in comparison with 30 per cent).

A 3rd (34 per cent) of non-believers said they felt despair, in comparison with 27 per cent of Christians. Again, amongst Christians who often attend communal worship, this figure was even lower.

Summarising the findings, the report stated, “Simply having a faith identity, a way of believing and belonging, is more closely linked to wellbeing than regular participation in communal worship.

“This study suggests that being anchored in a broader spiritual narrative and identity offers more substantial emotional advantages than ritual practice along.”