Study Finds Religion Improves Mental Health by a 10-to-1 Margin
A 2026 research review from the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University found that religious involvement is linked to better mental health outcomes in 10 out of every 11 high-quality studies. The analysis covered thousands of peer-reviewed studies on depression, anxiety, suicide, and substance abuse.
A major research review published in 2026 by the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University found that religious involvement is associated with positive mental health outcomes by a 10-to-1 margin over negative ones.
The study, led by Professor Loren D. Marks, analyzed thousands of high-quality, peer-reviewed studies examining the relationship between religious participation and mental health. It is the first in a planned three-part series.
On suicide, 89% of high-quality studies found that higher levels of religiosity correlate with lower suicide rates. Researchers noted that declining weekly church attendance may account for as much as 40% of the rise in U.S. suicide rates over recent decades.
For depression, 74% of studies linked religious involvement to better outcomes. For anxiety, 69% of studies found lower levels among more religious individuals. On positive emotion, 93% of studies found correlations between religious engagement and traits such as hope, optimism, self-esteem, and life satisfaction.
The researchers emphasized that the benefits are most pronounced among people who attend services weekly or more often. They called this a "threshold effect," noting that nominal affiliation without active participation produces fewer measurable benefits.
The report also found that religious participation is effective in preventing and rehabilitating substance abuse, partly because faith communities promote healthy habits and provide social support networks.
The researchers acknowledged some complexity. Studies on bipolar disorder and schizophrenia showed a marginally negative relationship with religion, though they noted this may reflect marginalization in secular environments rather than a direct effect of faith.
Based on the findings, the research team recommended that health organizations consider integrating faith-based support as a voluntary complement to professional mental health care, and that clinicians develop formal referral pathways to faith communities.
The report is expected to inform ongoing debates about the role of religion in public health policy, particularly as mental health crises continue to rise among younger Americans.
