Positive Psychology and Religion

Studies in positive psychology have linked religion and religious practice with greater physical and mental health and happiness. Individuals who identify themselves as religious, attend religious services, and engage in regular prayer have been shown to be less likely to become ill, more likely to recover from illness or injury, and live a longer, healthier life in general. In addition, the social support and sense of community gained from participating in religious activities increase mental wellbeing and increase an individuals ability to cope with a variety of stressors. Overall, religion provides individuals with a sense of meaning and purpose in life which contributes to a greater sense of wellbeing.
Religion versus Spirituality
When researching the impact that religion has on happiness, it is critical to differentiate between spirituality and religion. Spirituality and religion can create confusion in their interpretation, which is why it is important to disentangle the two concepts. There are few studies that have investigated the correlation between well-being measures and spirituality since spirituality is subjective, but a few studies have found that people who have spiritual experiences “are in the normal range of well-being and they have a tendency to report more positive feelings than others” (Kennedy & Kanthamani, 1995). Moreover, spirituality refers to the experience of a personal relationship with the transcendent, which implies that the individual is part of a greater whole and has to find meaning that will live on once the person has passed (Ericsson, 1982). Spirituality is an inner resource that produces awareness and can guide people in finding significance in life. Spirituality is linked to subjective well-being since it implies a double complementary feeling: that of being intensely alive and being intensely complete .
While spirituality is usually associated with finding the ultimate goal in life, religiosity has a much more institutionalized definition since it relates to the authority from centers of worship, and is much more community focused. Oftentimes, religion is a mechanism for gaining social support while spirituality has a more experiential focus by the individual . Religion is based on a set of beliefs about an institution where a particular faith is practiced. A person can be highly satisfied with their religion, but not with their spirituality or vice versa. But, spirituality and religion both provide a means to happiness for many people.
Physical Health
Illness Prevention and Recovery
Recent studies have demonstrated that church attendance is correlated with minimizing the incidence of illness in healthy individuals. These studies cite religion’s effect as a protective resource against the development of a disease, as well as a coping resource that serves to mediate the negative impact of disease on an individual (Koenig, Larson, & Larson, 2001). As a barrier to disease, religion may promote a healthy lifestyle physically by encouraging exercise and providing group support for healthy living. Religion can also impact positive mental health through meaningful social interactions that increases feelings of self-worth and act as vehicle for social support during times of stress (Powell, Shahabi & Thoresen, 2003).
Studies have also demonstrated that religion can ameliorate the negative physical and psychological effects of disease (Koenig, Larson, & Larson, 2001). Individuals who are ill may use religious beliefs and practices to relieve stress, regain a sense of control, and find meaning in the negative aspects of their illness. An absence of stress may help to increase the capacity of the body to physically heal itself after an injury or illness. In addition, religious persons are shown to be less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as smoking, excessive alcohol use, and risky sexual encounters that can lead to negative health outcomes (Koenig, Larson, & Larson, 2001).
Aging/Longevity
There is some data to suggest that there is an aging effect on religion, by which people tend to become more religious as they grow older (Johnson, 1995). Research confirms that older cohorts are more likely than younger cohorts to identify themselves as religious, and practice their religion regularly through prayer and church attendance (Johnson, 1995). Religion may contribute to the process of “aging well” in older cohorts because it provides an outlet of resources for the elderly during a time in which their other sources of support begin to diminish (Johnson, 1995).
Studies have found that, overall, individuals who have never attended church have a higher risk of death than those who attend religion services (Johnson, 1995). The effects of religion on longevity have withstood controls for various causes of death, as well as the effects of other variables such as age, sex, and race on the lifespan (Ferriss, 2002). Studies show that the meaning and purpose derived from religious faith to be the main source of its positive effects on longevity (Ferriss, 2002). According to the Broaden and Build model of positive psychology, finding positive meaning in life elicits positive emotions, which broaden the mind and increase the mental resources of the individual to deal with stressors and other negative life events (Green & Elliott, 2009).
Mental Health
Quality of Life
Involvement in religious practices and activities can benefit individuals' overall quality of life by offering a source of social support, a sense of community, and a sense of purpose. Although religious involvement can involve collective participation at worship-related services as well as more individual forms of involvement such as private prayer, religious activities typically are community focused. Thus, “participation in them provides individuals with a mechanism for gaining social support and personal strength,”. Research suggests that religious involvement can also help motivate and guide individuals to find significance in their lives and pursue self-actualization.
Studies on religion and personal well-being have shown to benefit both physical and mental health. In fact, “Religious involvement is directly associated with better mental health outcomes such as greater life satisfaction, lower levels of psychological distress, fewer depressive symptoms, and decreased anxiety.” Barbara L. Fredrickson, a social psychologist who conducts research on emotions and positive psychology, focused on the mechanisms underlying religion to explain its beneficial nature. In her Broaden-and-Build model, Frederickson explained the positive effects religion can have through the following process: religious practices help people find positive meaning in life, which elicits positive emotions, which in turn broadens the mind and increases personal resources, leading to improved health and well-being.
Coping
Religious involvement tends to promote behaviors related to good health. For instance, “Religious involvement decreases the likelihood of anxiety, alcohol and drug abuse and dependence, and clinical depression,”. Religious involvement can also have a positive impact on a person’s ability to cope with difficult or traumatic situations. Participation in religious activities can offer a suffering or depressed individual social resources such as availability of social ties and the perception that others are available during times of need. These are important links to positive mental health and can help facilitate the coping process and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
Effects of Religion and Community
The term "religious community" denotes a group of people brought together by reason of a shared religion. In such a community, relationships may be formed between individuals and the group as a whole. It is suggested that religious congregations may be a source of social, emotional, and economic support, as well as provide information assistance and formal programs for those in need. It has been found that church involvement is linked with social benefits and has both qu anitative and qualitative effects. Typically, religious communities share similar social values, worldviews, and status characteristics. Jacobson (1987) suggests that supportive efforts are especially valuable when the interactions are between people with shared cultural beliefs concerning helping behavior.
Results show that frequent churchgoers have larger social networks than infrequent and non-churchgoers. The number and closeness of relationships seem to be a factor in the proclivity for churchgoers to have more frequent contact with others, both in-person and on the telephone. These relationships formed within the religious community also show a positive effect on support in that frequent churchgoers benefit from a wider array of supportive activities than less active members, including socioemotional and instrumental support.
Research also shows effects on the quality of support that active participants receive. The network of relationships within a religious community can be an important part of one's life, providing a familiar group that may be involved in several significant life events. The literature on religious members' connectedness suggests that the bonds between churchgoers are beneficial. Lui et al. (1988) found that religious participation enhances individuals' psychological attachment to their communities. Data also shows that it is especially likely for frequent churchgoers, compared to infrequent or non-churchgoers, to report that they are cared for and valued, and feel they are part of “ongoing networks of communication and mutual obligation”. These results suggest that religion provides a social network through which members can gain positive feelings of support and benevolence.

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