Spirituality and Health: What We Know, What We Need to Know

TLDR

Spirituality and religion have been seen as beneficial, harmful, and irrelevant to health. We examine the recent research on this topic. We focus on defining spirituality and religion conceptually and operationally, exploring their relationships with health, and setting priorities for future research. The review finds moderate effect sizes linking religious practices to lower incidence of physical and mental illnesses, reduced mortality, and better recovery, mediated by increased healthy behaviors, social support, and a sense of coherence, though spirituality may differ from religion.

Abstract

Spirituality and religion have been seen as beneficial, harmful, and irrelevant to health. We examine the recent research on this topic. We focus on (a) defining spirituality and religion both conceptually and operationally; (b) the relationships between spirituality/religion and health; and (c) priorities for future research. Although the effect sizes are moderate, there typically are links between religious practices and reduced onset of physical and mental illnesses, reduced mortality, and likelihood of recovery from or adjustment to physical and mental illness. The three mechanisms underlying these relationships involve religion increasing healthy behaviors, social support, and a sense of coherence or meaning. This research is based on religion measures, however, and it should be emphasized that spirituality may be different.