How Spirituality Can Benefit Mental and Physical Health

How Spirituality Can Benefit Mental and Physical Health Spirituality Print How Spirituality Can Benefit Mental and Physical Health By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Updated on May 31, 2019 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living Burak Karademir / Getty Images While people use many different religions and paths to find God or to express their spirituality, ?research has shown that those who are more religious or spiritual  and use their spirituality to cope with life, experience many benefits to their health and well-being. For many, this news would come as no surprise; spirituality and religious activity have been a source of comfort and relief from stress for multitudes of people. In fact, according to a study from the University of Florida in Gainesville and Wayne State University in Detroit, older adults use prayer more than any other alternative therapies for health; 96% of study participants use prayer specifically to cope with stress. Spiritualitys Positive Influence on Health While specific spiritual views are a matter of faith, research has examined whether the benefits of spirituality and spiritual activity are provable facts. The results may surprise no one who has found comfort in their religious or spiritual views, but they are definitely noteworthy in that they demonstrate in a scientific way that these activities do work for many people. Here are just a few more of the many positive findings related to spirituality and its influence on physical and mental health: Canadian college students who are involved with campus ministries visited the doctor less. They also  scored higher on tests of psychological well-being and coped with stress more effectively.Older women are more grateful to God than older men, and they receive greater ?stress-buffering health effects due to this gratitude.Those with an intrinsic religious orientation, regardless of gender, exhibited less physiological reactivity toward stress than those with an extrinsic religious orientation. They were also less afraid of death and had greater feelings of well-being. (Those who were intrinsically oriented dedicated their lives to God or a ‘higher power,’ while the extrinsically oriented ones used religion for external ends like making friends or increasing community social standing.) This, along with other research, demonstrates that there may be tangible and lasting benefits to maintaining involvement with a spiritual community. This involvement, along with the gratitude that can accompany spirituality, can be a buffer against stress and is linked to greater levels of physical health. Dedication to God or a higher power translated into less stress reactivity, greater feelings of well-being, and ultimately even a decreased fear of death. People who feel comfortable and comforted using spirituality as a coping mechanism for stress can rest assured that theres even more evidence that this is a good idea for them. Prayer works for young and old alike. Prayer and spirituality have been linked to: Better healthLess hypertensionLess stress, even during difficult timesMore positive feelingsLess depressionGreater psychological well-beingSuperior ability to handle stress Final Thoughts Whether this information inspires you to rediscover a forgotten spiritual path, reinforces your commitment to an already well-established one, or simply provides interesting food for thought, this is just a sample of all the encouraging research that’s been done on the topic. Spirituality is a  very personal experience, and everyone’s spiritual path may be unique. However, some spiritual stress relief strategies have been helpful to many, regardless of faith. Check them out, and see which may work for you.