Religious attendance may not boost mental health, long-term study finds

An analysis of data from the British Household Panel Survey revealed that the relationship between religious-service attendance and mental health is unclear. While previous studies have often reported a positive association between religious attendance and better mental health, the results of this study found mostly no such association. In the few cases where an association was observed, an increase in religious attendance was followed by somewhat worse mental health symptoms. The research was published in Psychological Science.

Religious-service attendance refers to how often individuals participate in organized religious gatherings, such as church, mosque, synagogue, or temple services. It is one of the most commonly studied indicators of religiosity in psychological and health research. Studies have found that regular attendance is associated with better mental health outcomes, including lower rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. This relationship is partly attributed to increased social support, as religious communities can offer a strong sense of belonging and emotional connection.

Attending services may also promote positive coping strategies, such as hope, forgiveness, and meaning-making during difficult times. Additionally, religious involvement is often linked to healthier lifestyles, which can indirectly support mental well-being. However, the benefits may depend on personal belief and cultural context—for some individuals, religious environments can be stressful or stigmatizing. The effect is generally stronger when attendance is voluntary and personally meaningful, rather than socially pressured.

Study author Gabriele Prati aimed to investigate both within-person and between-person processes in the relationship between religious-service attendance and mental health. Specifically, she examined how changes in an individual’s attendance related to changes in their mental health over time (within-person effects), as well as how people who attend religious services more or less frequently differ from one another in terms of mental health (between-person effects).

She analyzed data from the Understanding Society—British Household Panel Survey, a longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of British households. At the time of analysis, the dataset included responses from 18 annual survey waves conducted between 1991 and 2009. The final sample included 29,298 individuals. At the beginning of the study, the average age of participants was 44 years, and 53% were female.

Free daily newsletter

The study focused on participants’ self-reported mental health symptoms and frequency of religious-service attendance. Attendance was assessed during 10 of the 18 survey waves with the question: “How often, if at all, do you attend religious services or meetings?” Response options included: once a week or more; less often but at least once a month; less often but at least once a year; never or practically never; and only at weddings, funerals, etc. Mental health symptoms were measured using the General Health Questionnaire, while life satisfaction was assessed with the question: “How dissatisfied or satisfied are you with your life overall?”

Results showed that religious-service attendance at one time point was generally not associated with mental health outcomes at a later time point. Even when participants reported higher-than-usual religious attendance, they did not tend to experience improvements in mental health. In several instances, greater religious attendance was followed by worse mental health symptoms at the next survey. Conversely, in three time points, an increase in loss of confidence was followed by increased religious attendance.

“The results suggest that there is a need to question the assumption that religious-service attendance provides mental health benefits,” the study authors concluded.

The study offers new insight into the links between religious-service attendance and mental health. However, it is important to note that the findings are based on a British sample, and results may differ in other cultural or religious contexts.

The paper, “Does Religious-Service Attendance Increase Mental Health? A Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis Across 18 Years,” was authored by Gabriele Prati.