Praying 'aids mental health' دعا خواندن به سلامت روحی و روانی کمک می کند

People who pray frequently are less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, according to a study. Much research has recently focused on the relationship between mental health and religion - with conflicting results.
A study by psychologists from Sheffield Hallam University looks into what aspects of religious observance are particularly likely to influence mental well-being. They studied 251 men and 223 women aged between 18 and 29, and measured their reasons for having a religious belief, the frequency with which they attended church and their tendency to depression. Women were more likely to be religious than men, but for both the frequency with which they prayed was strongly associated with fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. And although people who saw religion as being present in every aspect of their lives were less likely to be mentally ill than others, only those who also prayed frequently had noticeably higher self-esteem. The researchers, led by Dr John Maltby, say their findings suggest that the relationship between mental health and religion is linked to the way people use prayer to deal with stress. A spokeswoman for the Mental Health Foundation, which recently published a book on religion and mental health, said it had also found that those with a personal spirituality and life philosophy were more likely to be able to cope with stress. The spokeswoman said it appeared spirituality in its widest sense had a positive effect on mental health. "It may be as simple as having personal time and space and prayer may give people that," she said. "Not having enough time to focus on yourself can contribute to mental distress."