An extensive analysis of data from the British Household Panel Survey has cast doubt on the widely held belief that attending religious services positively impacts mental health. While earlier research often suggested a beneficial link between religious participation and improved mental well-being, this new study, published in Psychological Science, found little evidence to support such claims. In some cases, increased religious attendance was even associated with a slight decline in mental health.
Religious-service attendance, defined as participation in organized gatherings at places of worship such as churches, mosques, synagogues, or temples, is a frequently studied measure of religiosity in psychological and health research. Historically, studies have linked regular attendance to better mental health outcomes, including reduced depression, anxiety, and substance abuse rates. This positive relationship is often attributed to the social support and sense of community provided by religious groups, which can foster a strong sense of belonging and emotional connection.
Complex Relationship Between Religion and Mental Health
Attending religious services is thought to encourage positive coping mechanisms, such as hope, forgiveness, and meaning-making during challenging times. Furthermore, religious involvement is often associated with healthier lifestyles, which can indirectly enhance mental well-being. However, the benefits of religious attendance may vary depending on personal beliefs and cultural contexts. For some, religious environments can be sources of stress or stigma. The positive effects are generally more pronounced when attendance is voluntary and personally meaningful, rather than socially coerced.
Study author Gabriele Prati sought to explore both within-person and between-person dynamics in the relationship between religious attendance and mental health. She focused on how changes in an individual’s attendance correlated with changes in their mental health over time (within-person effects) and how individuals with varying levels of religious attendance differed in mental health outcomes (between-person effects).
Longitudinal Data Analysis
Prati analyzed data from the Understanding Society—British Household Panel Survey, a longitudinal study encompassing a nationally representative sample of British households. The dataset included responses from 18 annual survey waves conducted between 1991 and 2009, with a final sample size of 29,298 individuals. At the study’s outset, participants had an average age of 44 years, and 53% were female.
The study examined participants’ self-reported mental health symptoms and frequency of religious-service attendance. Attendance was measured during 10 of the 18 survey waves with the question: “How often, if at all, do you attend religious services or meetings?” Response options ranged from “once a week or more” to “never or practically never.” Mental health symptoms were assessed using the General Health Questionnaire, and life satisfaction was gauged with the question: “How dissatisfied or satisfied are you with your life overall?”
Unexpected Findings and Implications
The results indicated that religious attendance at one time point was generally not linked to mental health outcomes at a subsequent time point. Even when participants reported higher-than-usual religious attendance, improvements in mental health were not observed. In several instances, increased religious attendance was followed by worse mental health symptoms in the next survey. Interestingly, at three time points, a loss of confidence was followed by increased religious attendance.
“The results suggest that there is a need to question the assumption that religious-service attendance provides mental health benefits,” the study authors concluded.
This study provides new insights into the complex relationship between religious-service attendance and mental health. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that these findings are based on a British sample and may not be applicable in different cultural or religious contexts.
Looking Ahead
The paper, titled “Does Religious-Service Attendance Increase Mental Health? A Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis Across 18 Years,” authored by Gabriele Prati, challenges existing assumptions and calls for a reevaluation of the perceived benefits of religious attendance on mental health. Future research could explore these dynamics in diverse cultural settings to better understand the global implications of religious participation on mental well-being.