Updated on July 5, 2023.
There is no single definition for spirituality, nor is there a single way to practice it. Some experts describe it as a belief in something bigger than yourself. But spirituality means different things to different people, and even those meanings can change over time.
Regardless of how you define or practice it—whether with, say, meditation, prayer, or yoga—the perks of spirituality can include major health improvements. Studies suggest spirituality and prayer can boost mental and physical health and may even add years to your life. With that in mind, here are five potential benefits of spiritual wellness.
Quell stress
Stress can come from many things, including relationship issues, job loss, and the pressures of work and daily life. Some stress is normal, but excess stress can be debilitating. Practicing spirituality is a productive way to reduce stress levels and focus your energy on something positive.
Studies suggest mindfulness-based stress reduction, a form of meditation, has shown positive results for lessening stress among both sick and healthy people. Feeling a little overwhelmed? Find a quiet spot and reflect for a few moments. Relinquishing control of whatever is burdening you may just be enough to calm your mind.
Reduce depression
Depression, a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, guilt, and hopelessness, can interfere with daily life. Depression is often treated with medication and talk therapy. But some studies suggest spirituality—namely mindfulness meditation, prayer, and yoga—can also help alleviate its effects.
Meditation can be practiced a number of ways, but evidence suggests that mindfulness meditation, a type of meditation that focuses on awareness of the present moment, is effective. Yoga, a series of movements and breathing exercises that promote calmness and flexibility, can also reduce symptoms of depression.
Live longer
Some studies suggest that people who go to religious services or participate in religious activity may have a longer life than those who don’t.
For example, a study of about 3,000 people published in 2023 in the European Journal of Epidemiology found that women who regularly attended religious services had a lower mortality rate than those who did not attend. Meanwhile, men who went to services had a lower hospitalization rate.
Similarly, a frequently cited study of 74,534 women published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2016 found that those who attended services at least once a week had a 33 percent lower risk of death during the study, with lower risks of cardiovascular- and cancer-related death, specifically. The social support and optimism associated with religious services, as well as fewer depressive symptoms and less smoking, were cited as influential factors.
Lower blood pressure
Some studies suggest people who are more religious or spiritual often have lower blood pressure than those who aren’t. High blood pressure and stress are linked. When you are stressed, a flood of hormones increases heart rate and narrows blood vessels, thereby increasing blood pressure. Reducing stress levels through spiritual practice can, in turn, lower blood pressure.
Deepen social connections
Relationships and social connections are more important to our health than we may think. Having fewer social connections may even be linked to a higher risk of conditions like cancer and cardiovascular disease—but spirituality could be one potential remedy.
A study published in 2017 in PLoS One found that people who attended religious services more than once weekly were 40 percent less likely to die early than those who never went. Researchers credited a significant part of that protective effect to in-person social involvement, notably volunteering. Attendance was important. In the study, people who were very religious but unable to leave the home—perhaps due to illness or physical limitations—actually had a higher mortality risk.
Not sure where to begin? Find your spiritual center with these activities:
- Volunteer in your community.
- Make your relationships a priority
- Try meditation and relaxation techniques.
- Read inspiring stories and essays.
- Make a list of what’s important in your life.
- Give yoga a try.
