Decades of data collected in a single study published last fall shows that a relationship with God improves mental health and well-being, study authors said Wednesday in Washington. Speaking at the 4th Annual International Religious Freedom Summit in DC.
Gallup and the Radiant Foundation reviewed decades of Gallup research and more than 400 verified research studies of tens of thousands of people in 140 countries. They found measurable evidence that religion and spirituality have positive benefits.
“Our relationship with God is healing,” said Angela Redding, executive director of the Radiant Foundation. “Every study we've seen suggests that having a relationship with God reduces suicide rates and reduces depression and anxiety.”
IRF Summit organizers said the event aims to grow the human rights movement in support of international religious freedom. Redding and other speakers at the summit said data shows there is a global connection between spirituality and happiness.
Ilana Ron Levy, managing director of public sector consulting at Gallup, said a plethora of studies provide evidence of measurable benefits from religion and spirituality.
But the number of Americans who say religion is an important part of their daily lives has fallen from 59% in 1999 to 46% in 2022, according to a Gallup poll.
So what's going on here?
“Why are people turning away from religion when religion and spirituality have quantifiable benefits to people's well-being and mental health?” Ron-Levy said.
Research on religion and mental health
Redding said additional research could provide some answers. Religion and spirituality have a problem of perception. Religion is increasingly seen as divisive, even though data shows it brings healing.
Radiant Foundation participated in an AI-powered study of over 30 million pieces of content and found that 63% of faith-related content is rooted in controversy. A further 11% were of an extreme nature, including hate speech.
“So three-quarters of our media and entertainment diet is about what we know to be true about religion and faith, whether it's noble and personal and lived experience.” It does not represent that,” Redding said at the IRF Summit. “Rather, what we see is political, divisive, and often sensationalized and stereotyped.”
More than half of survey respondents said the media actively ignores religion as an aspect of society and culture, at a time when research suggests 84% of humanity is connected to religion or spirituality. said.
“You wouldn't know that from how faiths and religious people are portrayed in popular media,” Redding said.
According to data compiled by Gallup and the Radiant Foundation, spirituality helps or reduces the rates of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and suicide.
For example, researchers identified 444 studies conducted since the early 1960s that empirically examined the relationship between spirituality and happiness, Ron Levy said.
“What we saw was that in 61% of these studies, there was an inverse relationship between depression and religiosity,” she said.
Only 6% of those studies suggested the opposite.
“This was another empirical suggestion and demonstration of the strong link between well-being and the mental health benefits of religion,” Ron-Levy said.
The study found that spirituality impacts happiness in five key ways.
- First, it provides positive purpose and coping strategies in life.
- Second, faith-based social connections are encouraged.
- Third, foster community and citizen participation.
- Fourth, it increases structural stability.
- And fifth, it can strengthen workplaces that seek to support the overall well-being of their employees.
Redding said the health app Skylight, developed by the Radiant Foundation, provided additional data.
“We have recorded nearly 10 million spiritual practices completed by 4 million unique users,” she said. “And we saw anxiety scores go down and sleep scores go up.”
She said the data shows both correlation and causation.
“Our international community is calling for shared healing,” Redding said. “And we have the power here to change the narrative and support people of all faiths in all cultures. My call to action for all of us today is to bring peace, human fraternity and tolerance to the world. Let's work together to bring this about.”
gather people together and listen
Doug Wilkes, executive editor of the Deseret News, moderated a panel discussion with three influential leaders who asked for their reactions to the data.
Anila Ali, president and CEO of the Muslim and Interfaith Women's Empowerment Council of America, said, “My belief that faith is something we can cling to and help us through difficult times is… I reconfirmed it.”
Rabbi Diana Gerson, Vice Chair of the Board of Rabbis of New York, speaks on a panel at the 4th Annual IRF Summit on International Religious Freedom held at the Washington Hilton on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 in Washington, DC. Mr.
Ali also suggested that adults should help America's youth communicate more.
“They're not losing faith, they're having doubts,” she says. “And I feel like we can set a better example and come together to show that religion is not divisive, that religion finds solutions.”
Rabbi Diana Gerson also called the study's findings positive, saying adults need to listen twice as much as they talk when discussing with young people. She recalled asking her grandmother why she kept the ham on a separate shelf on paper plates in her house to keep her kosher.
“Because the neighborhood kids like to eat ham and cheese sandwiches, and I want them to feel comfortable at my table,” my grandmother said.
“And I think about that,” said Rabbi Gerson, a member of the New York State Board of Rabbis. “Can we sit at each other's tables? Can we break bread together? So if (young people) come to us asking for something, just ask.”
Deseret News Editor-in-Chief Doug Wilkes will moderate a panel discussion with Anila Ali, president and CEO of the American Muslim and Interfaith Women's Empowerment Council. Rabbi Diana Gerson, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis; Nicole Sterling, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Sterling Foundation; At the IRF Summit on International Religious Freedom, Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC.
Nicole Sterling said she felt her daughter helped her with her own well-being through spirituality when she was struggling with mental health issues.
“I wanted to give her some reassurance, but when you look at the different needs around the world, people who are focused on a higher power than themselves feel a sense of community and self-reliance. “We noticed common patterns and themes that we could support ourselves by connecting arms and really accelerating the good that they can do,” said Sterling, vice president, chief communications officer and founding director of the Sterling Foundation. he said.
She said the Gallup/Radiant study showed that when people share their spirituality and beliefs, they leaven the entire community.
“So, if I can leave you with something deep, it's that faith is at the core of my being. It's why I do what I do. That's why I believe in others. I spend my time helping.”
