In the news today I heard that people who have a religion are less prone to depression and anxiety?

Question

Today when I was watching the news I heard that it has been proved by scientific studies that people who have a religion or believe in a higher power are less prone to depression and anxiety in difficult conflicts since they have more hope in a higher power.

What is your opinion?

Me as a Christian I have suffered from depression in the past. There are times when I feel down as a normal human being, but now I don't experience depression like I did years ago. If I feel upset, it's for a couple of days or a week, and that cant be classified as depression, not like before where it lasted for long periods of time. I have tough about taking pills before but I think that God has kept me from staying away from them, and I have been thinking more positively.

God works differently on people so I can't speak for everyone. This was on the news and is not the first time I hear it, and that is proof enough for me.

Mental Note: Do my own personal research about this, in the future.

Answer 1

In a study published in the journal, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, indicated that higher religious involvement of adolescence leads to lower rates of alcohol use and problems behaviors in many areas of the U.S. Also, it stated that their study had shown that teens who consider religion important in their lives are half as likely than teens, who do not consider religion important, to drink (alcoholic beverages) heavily or smoke marijuana.12

The people who led this study have drawn the conclusion that religiosity must affect the ability of the individual to cope with life stress – with the ability to turn to prayer or turn their problems over to their god. Religion also frequently influences the attitude and values of an individual, giving them the feeling of a meaning and purpose to their life, which is a valuable feeling to have as it gives a person self worth, which can help one to stay away from things that they might view as devaluing themselves such as teen pregnancy, and substance abuse.

In addition to all these things, which are something that all parents wants for their child, studies have been done that have found a correlation between the religiosity of a person and how physically healthy they are, and self-assessed happiness. Those findings led researchers to the conclusion that people who are (regularly) religiously involved had a lower probability of reporting a health problem than others who were less involved or not involved at all in religious activities. Also, those people studied who were assessed as more religious were more likely to report being happier and healthier than people who were not as religious. It was determined that people who attend religious services once a week seem to get the greatest rewards in the way of happiness and health.

After listing all these benefits I would find it hard to believe that a parent would not want all these things for their child. In fact, these are the things that parents struggle over in order to keep their child on the clean, and successful path towards adulthood as a competent and functioning member of society.

Religion is the cornerstone that may allow your child to stay strong in the face of peer pressure and curiosity that may lead to destructive behaviors. You want the best for your child and this is the way to provide your child with a sense of self-worth and morals that can and will follow them all through their lives.

Answer 2

Ya, I've heard the studies. It makes sense too, someone who has a strong support network...rather it be belief in a higher power, church friends, or some other group...will be more likely to have something to fall back on when life gets a little rough. It's not proof of a higher power, it just goes along with the idea that we are emotional beings who need some sort of community to stave off anxiety and depression.

Answer 3

I say it's hogwash. Let's see the study. I love it when people use 'studies' to back up things (popular media does this all the time) without putting up the footnotes and references for it. Let's see if it was a scientific poll done with stringent data collection or if it was an unscientific poll and has a five or better percent margin of error.

What a person's belief system is has nothing to do with how happy a person they are. I know happy christians and suicidal ones, the same with atheists, pagans, and other belief systems.

If I believed everything that was said on the news I'd still believe that we invaded Iraq because of WMDs. The news has plenty of fallibility.

Answer 4

Can't say it better than George Bernard Shaw did.

"The fact that a believer is happier than a sceptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality."
-- Androcles and the Lion, Preface (1916)

Check out the link below for some more great cynical Shaw quotations. I hope I get to meet him when I go to Hell!

Answer 5

Yes, Christians would experience less depression because of our hope in Christ. He took all of our anxieties away on the cross.

I question if all religions offer such release from depression. For example I am not sure how peaceful I would feel as a Muslim whose religion demanded I kill everyone who disagreed with my religion. That is pretty depressing, but then again I guess that it why they get 70 virgins if they die killing other people.

Answer 6

Well, of course they are less prone to depression...

unlike athiests, people with a religion have something to believe in...something that tells them that there is more to life than just what we are living now...when we die, there is an afterlife...

Religion gives people hope and somewhere to go when they are questioning life...

People without religion have NOWHERE to go when they have no religion, and that generally brings people down...especally people living in a abusive household...people living in abusive settings usually get so depressed that they dont believe in god, thinking that if he actually existed, then their life wouldnt be so bad...

yeeaahhhhpp

Answer 7

Yea it is true because once you get into God's ministry its like a life changing experience. You see thing and problems in diffrent ways because know you have God by your side to help you and to take care of your problems. Thats y we dont get as depressed as other people but God is wonderful and thats why we live in joy and happiness, and not in depression and struggles.

Answer 8

It's true. With a personal relationship with Christ, I feel so peaceful and don't get stressed out anymore. It's a beautiful thing to trust in the Lord.
(www.notreligion.com)
God bless

Answer 9

Pray More often and even outloud rebuke that depression spirit in the Name of Jesus. Surround yourself with other Christians worship the Lord in Spirit and truth shake off those shackels that keep you bound! Start dancing on your problems Cry outloud unto the God of your salvation He will come near in those moments of Depression and He will deliever you if you will just cry outloud unto Him!

Answer 10

I am generally a very happy person, especially when reminded that I am one of the few 20% who's got it right. Have a nice night.