The Springtide Research Institute has released a report revealing some interesting insights about the positive impact of prayer and spiritual practices on individuals’ mental health. The study was the result of qualitative interviews with 100 interviewees and 10,000 survey respondents aged 13-25. According to the survey, 73% of young religious individuals agreed that their religious and spiritual practices positively impact their mental health. 66% also agreed that their practices mattered for their mental health. 74% of the respondents who identified as “very religious” also either agreed or strongly agreed that they were “in good physical and emotional condition.” Furthermore, 70% of those currently connected to a faith community stated that they, “discovered a satisfying life purpose.” The largest percentage, 42%, of those we identified as flourishing a lot were also individuals who felt “highly connected” to a higher power.

Respondents who did not identify as religious appeared to be less positive with only 42% agreeing or strongly agreeing that they had a good emotional and physical condition. 55% of those who were no longer part of a faith community stated they had a satisfying life purpose while 47% of those who do not feel connected to a higher power also stated they were not flourishing at all, while only 15% of those individuals stated they were flourishing a lot. Spiritual and religious practices were broken down into three areas: prayer, art (such as singing, painting, music), and being in nature. Only 32% of respondents said they “never pray.” The pandemic appears to have increased reliance on prayer, as 51% stated they started praying regularly during the pandemic and 74% of those that pray daily stated they are flourishing compared to just 57% of those who never pray. The responses coincide with a study by Tyler J. VanderWeele of Harvard, which found that young adults who pray daily have fewer depressive symptoms and higher life satisfaction.

The Springtide Research Institute collected the data in the interest of looking at mental health in young people. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association declared a National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health fall 2021, stating, “Rates of childhood mental health concerns and suicide rose steadily between 2010 and 2020 and by 2018 suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24. The pandemic has intensified this crisis: across the country we have witnessed dramatic increases in Emergency Department visits for all mental health emergencies including suspected suicide attempts.”

According to Springtide’s survey, 47% of young people stated they were moderately or extremely depressed, while 61% of young people agree that “the adults in my life don’t truly know how much I am struggling with my mental health.” While prayer and spiritual practices appear to have an impact on mental health, the study also made some suggestions for organizations for fostering belonging, offering practical tools, and helping to nurture a sense of purpose. Springtide’s Executive Director, Josh Packard, summed up the findings saying, “Theology matters … your purpose for being on earth is something only this segment of the population has cornered the market on.”