A series of studies show that spiritual people have better mental health.
Almost 70% of Americans practice a particular religion, and an additional 25-30% consider themselves spiritual.
It turns out that’s a good thing. There is growing evidence that spirituality is good for our mental health.
A systematic review published in the International Journal of Psychology and Religion combined evidence from 48 longitudinal studies to assess the impact of religion and spirituality on mental health. Researchers found that participants who participated in public religious activities and those who said religion was important to them had greater mental health benefits than those who did not value religion. I discovered that.
Lisa Miller, professor of psychology and education at Columbia University and founder of the Spirituality Mind-Body Institute, delves deeper into this topic in her book. Awakened heart.
First, Miller discusses research that distinguishes between spirituality and religion. In her research, “religious” is defined as identifying with an organized religion, such as Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. It identifies “spirituality” as feeling a direct connection to a higher power and recognizing that same connection or presence in others. Miller explains that some people are deeply religious and at the same time highly spiritual. There are also people who are highly spiritual and do not subscribe to any organized religion. They often cultivate spirituality through nature, art, and philanthropy.
Miller’s book cites research by herself and other researchers demonstrating that personal spirituality protects against developmental mental health disorders. For example, people who say spirituality is very important to them are 80% less likely to become dependent on drugs or alcohol, 60% less likely to experience major depressive disorder, and are less likely to experience major health risks. 70% less likely to make a decision. This is true across different religions and cultures.
A significant portion of Miller’s own research uses brain imaging to connect spirituality and religion. Her latest research on this topic used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to conduct brain scans while participants recalled personal spiritual experiences. Her team was able to observe which areas of the brain lit up while participants listened to recordings of their own voices recalling personal spiritual experiences.
When participants listened to stories about their own spiritual experiences, researchers found that activity in the brain’s left inferior parietal lobe (IPL), part of the area associated with processing sensations and emotions, decreased. I noticed that. This activity suggests that spiritual experiences can help people cope with stress while maintaining their mental health.
Participants in this study demonstrated activity in the same areas of the brain, regardless of what type of spiritual experience they described. Some speak of a “two-way relationship with a higher power” in a church setting, others speak of a sense of oneness while standing on top of a mountain, or the feeling of being “in the zone” during strenuous physical activity. Some people talked about it.
A key element of these spiritual experiences, Miller explains, was an overarching sense that things were going to be okay.
In addition to conducting primary research, the Institute for Spirituality, Mind and Body works to promote spirituality in local communities. The Institute runs the Awakened Schools project, which provides professional development opportunities for teachers to learn about emotionally supportive teaching methods. The institute also works with the U.S. military to help U.S. military leaders cultivate spirituality in American soldiers.
Take-home message: There is growing evidence that spirituality, whether through organized religion or personal beliefs, is an important component of mental health.
