Our personal relationship with God determines the benefits of prayers

For older, religious people, prayer does work scientists say as they found that this form of devotion promotes higher well-being levels. But for others, the gains of praying are not that secure.

As people grow older, those who are religious are more likely to have a sense of well-being. And scientists from Baylor University say that the more frequently they pray, the greater that feeling is. But for those that are not that devout, prayer will not bring the same gains.

The study by lead author Matt Bradshaw, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology in the College of Arts & Sciences, found that the benefits of prayer depend on the personal relationship between a person and God.

“What we’re finding is that prayer can be associated with more or less well-being, depending on how you perceive God,” said researcher Blake Kent, a doctoral candidate in sociology. “In a nutshell, the psychological benefits of prayer seem to be dependent on the quality of a person’s relationship with God.”

In other words, for those that are highly secure in their faith, there is a sharp increase in well-being the more they pray. On the other hand, for those that have only a moderate attachment to God, the benefits of praying are much lower thou they still exist. For those whose attachment to God falls below the mean, the results are mixed. Some have experienced an increase in well-being while others actually registered a decrease.

Scientists say that ultimately, it all comes down to how we view God and how much trust we put in him.

“Is God seen as safe and secure? Then prayer seems to have a positive benefit. Is God distant, or even untrustworthy? Then it may be a different story,” researcher Blake Kent said. “When you can’t trust God, prayer is not associated with confidence in his care, but with uncertainty and anxiety. There is a perception out there that prayer is automatically good for your well-being. That may not be the case for everyone, because such a perception assumes that God is responsive and trustworthy. But many people don’t experience God that way.”

But the study also pointed out one key issue that is important, especially for older, religious people: the need of a loving and protecting God. Various aspects of religious life, including perceived intimacy with a benevolent God, have been shown to buffer against stress like loss, discrimination due to aging and failing health.

“A loving and supportive God who also is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient may provide considerable comfort, assurance and resilience to believers who are approaching the end of their lives,” the scientists argue.