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Prayer as coping: a psychological analysis
1Department of Psychology, SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA. psylevin@buffalo.edu
Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy
|December 10, 2009
Summary
Prayer and positive religious attitudes are linked to improved wellbeing and health. This study explores how prayer, viewed as divine conversation, theoretically alleviates distress and enhances psychological health.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Empirical links exist between prayer, positive religious attitudes, personal wellbeing, health, and distress relief.
- William James's concept of prayer as "inward communication or conversation with a power recognized as divine" provides a foundational framework.
Purpose of the Study:
- To offer a theoretical explanation for how prayer contributes to distress relief.
- To elucidate the mechanisms through which prayer enhances psychological wellbeing and health.
Main Methods:
- Utilizes established psychological constructs.
- Applies a theoretical framework based on the Jamesian concept of prayer.
Main Results:
- Prayer, conceptualized as divine conversation, is theoretically linked to reduced psychological distress.
- The practice of prayer is associated with improved health and psychological wellbeing.
Conclusions:
- Prayer, understood as a form of divine communication, offers a theoretical pathway to psychological healing and improved wellbeing.
- Psychological constructs can explain the positive health outcomes associated with religious engagement and prayer.
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