Psychology of Religion

When facing a stressful task, people who feel punished by God report experiencing higher levels of stress. But a new study reveals their bodies tell a different story, showing a surprisingly blunted cardiovascular response to the challenge.

As internet access spreads across the globe, formal religious affiliation tends to fall. A new study of 81 countries links three decades of digital expansion to a steady decline in traditional religious identity.

People who are more religious often report better mental health. However, new research suggests this connection is largely explained by how they find meaning in life and the amount of time they spend on social media.

Young adults are more likely to share their parents' religious habits if they view their upbringing as warm but structured. A recent study reveals that regional geographic culture alters how different parenting strategies shape this intergenerational transmission of faith.

Young people who grow up in financially secure households are slightly more likely to lose their belief in God by the time they reach adulthood, suggesting modern material comfort may reduce the psychological need for religious support systems.

A new diary study of cohabiting couples reveals that when individuals feel a sense of spiritual forgiveness from a higher power, they are more likely to make amends and forgive their partners after an everyday relationship conflict.

When perpetrators use faith to justify physical or sexual abuse, the psychological impact on victims is magnified. A new study links religion-justified maltreatment to quadrupled odds of extreme anxiety in adulthood compared to secular forms of abuse.

Many studies link attending religious services to better mental health. However, a new long-term analysis reveals that this relationship is likely a coincidence, finding that frequent religious attendance does not directly prevent depression, anxiety, or panic disorders.

A new study reveals that societal belief in hell strongly predicts lower rates of infidelity and casual sex. This fear of supernatural punishment doesn't reduce sexual desire, but it does appear to stop people from acting on it.

A massive analysis of population data in Finland links the decline in national church membership with the country's dropping birth rate. As secularization rises, couples that share a religious affiliation are becoming rarer, further suppressing first-time parenthood.

Belief in karma can lead people to view social inequality as fair, but it also motivates charitable giving. New research reveals that focusing on karma increases generosity, but mostly toward individuals who suffer through no fault of their own.

Exposure to subtle religious cues, like a Christmas carol or the call to prayer, can temporarily lower an individual's dietary restraint. A new study shows how reminders of God cause consumers to desire unhealthy ultra-processed foods.

A comprehensive review of more than 50 studies has found a strong link between spirituality and a lower risk of substance abuse. Participating in religious or spiritual services significantly reduces the likelihood of harmful drug and alcohol use.

A recent study links complementarianism—the conservative Christian belief in strict gender roles—to strong support for national population growth and severe restrictions on birth control and abortion.

A study of college students found that petitioning God for a partner's well-being is associated with higher relationship satisfaction. However, this connection is only significant for individuals who regularly attend religious services and consider religion extremely important.