Do more people pray when things are beyond their control?

Answer 1

Yes, even people that said they would never pray. I think God gets most of His prayer request when people are close to death or in the most dire situations. Of course He wants us to come to Him in times of need, but He also wants us to thank Him for the things He's already done for us. I guarentee that I will see people in Heaven that I would never have thought of, because on their deathbeds they became a believer. Who knows Charles Darwin might be there.

Answer 2

It makes them feel like they have done something useful. Like many other superstitions, it helps relieve anxiety.