Research Overview

The Wellbeing Benefits of Spirituality

The wellbeing benefits of spirituality are evidenced in rigorous research and theory.
We welcome being guided to papers and research we may have missed. Please contact us.

Schools Spiritual Wellbeing Research

For research specifically related to our National Schools Spiritual Wellbeing Project click here

Evidence for the Benefits of a Spiritual Approach

Over 10,000 peer reviewed academic papers from medical sociology demonstrate the health and wellbeing benefits of a spiritual approach. These are three major sources that have aggregated the research:

Balboni TA, VanderWeele TJ, Doan-Soares SD, et al. Spirituality in serious illness and health. JAMA. 2022;328(2):184-197. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.11086

Harold G. Koenig: “Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications”, International Scholarly Research Network Psychiatry Volume 2012, Article ID 278730

Michael E. McCullough and Brian L. B. Willoughby, ‘Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations and Implications’, Psychological Bulletin, January 2009

Ongoing Research is taking place in many universities and research institutes. Beware of false claims being made in the global wellbeing industry. A useful monthly digest can be found in Duke University’s Crossroads

Evidence Based Benefits of a Spiritual Approach

Psychology & Physiology of the Benefits

Theories and models of the psychology and physiology are continually being developed and are at the cutting edge of much research.

The general model for how the health benefits are achieved is straightforward. A spiritual approach to life creates a psychological and experiential inclination that lowers anxiety and tension. Lowered anxiety reduces tissue inflammation and enables pain-free flexibility. At the same time, there is a psychological benefit of increased meaning, purpose, confidence, connection and calm.

For a fuller discussion of the psychological and physiological model click here.

Recent Relevant Publications

2026

20 June 2026
Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy Across Cultures — Insights from Catholic therapists in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dissent-from-freud/202606/spiritually-integrated-psychotherapy-across-cultures

June 2026
Positive body image is a pathway between nature contact and life satisfaction across 58 nations
An interesting take on biophilia and wellbeing from ‘Environment International’
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412026002357

22 May 2026
Why Are Religion and Spirituality Important in Mental Healthcare?
Report on the Harvard Medical School 6th Global Summit on Spirituality, Religion & Mental Health
https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/why-religion-and-spirituality-are-essential-for-mental-healthcare/

30 April 2026
The Missing Skill in High Performance: Spiritual Intelligence
Useful article that points to Harvard’s ‘Global Flourish Study’
https://www.forbes.com/sites/menamirhom/2026/04/30/the-missing-skill-in-high-performance-spiritual-intelligence/

27 April 2026
Integrating Spiritual Care in Senior Living – An Example of Good Practice
https://www.iadvanceseniorcare.com/integrating-spiritual-care-in-senior-living-best-practices-for-meaningful-resident-support/

22 April 2026
Yale School of Medicine – New Program Explores the Intersection of Spirituality and Mental Health.
https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/new-program-explores-the-intersection-of-spirituality-and-mental-health/

5 March 2026
Four papers have simultaneously been published by the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. All begin with the title ‘Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality.’ Links to all four papers can be found on the Sage Journals web page (scroll down the Sage page for the March dates): click here

24 February 2026
People who feel a spiritual connection to their surroundings tend to report better mental health.
https://www.psypost.org/people-who-feel-a-spiritual-connection-to-their-surroundings-tend-to-report-better-mental-health/

18 February 2026
Spiritual practices strongly associated with reduced risk for hazardous alcohol and drug use.
https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/spiritual-practices-strongly-associated-with-reduced-risk-for-hazardous-alcohol-and-drug-use/

8 February 2026
Schools that cultivate the mind but neglect spiritual education leave children unanchored in a challenging world
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/09/children-schools-spiritual-education

6 February 2026
Spirituality can’t be reduced to what’s happening in the brain.
https://psyche.co/ideas/spirituality-cant-be-reduced-to-whats-happening-in-the-brain