Spirituality: Mental Health, Recovery From Injury Influenced By Religious Beliefs

Your religious beliefs could influence your recovery from an illness or even affect your mental health. 

"In general, the more religious or spiritual you are, the healthier you are, which makes sense," Brick Johnstone, a neuropsychologist and professor of health psychology in the School of Health Professions, said in a statement. "But for some individuals, even if they have even the smallest degree of negative spirituality -- basically, when individuals believe they're ill because they've done something wrong and God is punishing them -- their health is worse."

In this recent study, researchers analyzed data on close to 200 individuals with a range of health conditions, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), cancer and/or chronic pain, while others involved had no health problems. 

The study volunteers were divided into two groups, including a negative spirituality group that consisted of those who reported feeling abandoned or punished by a higher power and those who felt no connection to a higher poor or abandoned or punished by a higher power. All participants were also required to answer questions regarding their emotional and physical health, including physical pain.

Findings revealed that those in the study who felt no connection to religion experienced worse pain and worse physical and mental health than counterparts who experienced a more positive spiritual outlook. These counterparts also reported better mental health. However, even if individuals reported positive spiritual beliefs, having any degree of negative spiritual beliefs ultimately contributed to poorer health outcomes.

"Previous research has shown that about 10 percent of people have negative spiritual beliefs; for example, believing that if they don't do something right, God won't love them," Johnstone added. "That's a negative aspect of religion when people believe, 'God is not supportive of me. What kind of hope do I have?' However, when people firmly believe God loves and forgives them despite their shortcomings, they had significantly better mental health."

It's important to note that in addition to the aforementioned, those who held negative perceptions of spiritual beliefs also reported participating in religious practices less frequently, with lower levels of positive spirituality and even the ability to forgive. Interventions that may help combat negative spiritual beliefs and promote positive ones could be helpful with improving pain and mental health in some individuals.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health.

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