Prayer and health outcomes in church lay leaders.

This study examined the relationship of frequency of prayer on health outcomes in a national sample of 1,014 church lay leaders. The survey included questions on the frequency of prayer and the Medical Outcomes Study, Short Form 36 Health Survey, measuring eight categories of functional health. The results indicated a high level of functioning overall. Age was strongly related to most aspects of health in this sample. Frequent prayer was associated with poor physical functioning and poor ability to carry out role activities, but these relationships were not significant when the effect of age and gender was controlled. Frequent prayer was also significantly associated with high mental health scores, regardless of age or gender. This study supports the growing body of data suggesting a positive relationship between frequency of spiritual practices and mental health, even in a homogeneous sample of active church members.

Prayer and health outcomes in church members.

CONTEXT: This study adds to the existing research on religion and health by focusing on the specific practice of prayer and its relationship to health outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this survey is to examine the relationship of frequency of prayer to 8 categories of physical and mental health. DESIGN: The Presbyterian Church, USA, performed data collection as part of an ongoing research program. Members of the Presbyterian Church were randomly selected from the national population and surveyed by mail on their frequency of prayer and their health status, as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short-form 36 Health Survey. RESULTS: Self-reports of health indicated a high level of functioning overall for all 8 categories of physical and mental health. People who prayed more often scored lower in their physical functioning and their ability to carry out role activities, and higher in their reports of physical pain. However, people who prayed more often also had significantly higher mental health scores than did those who prayed less frequently, despite their physical health problems. CONCLUSION: This study supports the relationship of a high frequency of prayer with a more positive mental health. Various explanations of the results are explored.

Faith, prayer, and health outcomes in elderly Native Americans.

This survey questioned 71 Native Americans over age 65 living in the general community on their frequency of prayer, importance of faith, and their health status. The researchers hypothesized that people with higher scores in faith and prayer would experience a more positive health status. Self-reports of health indicated a high level of functioning overall. Older people and those living alone had poorer physical and emotional health outcomes than younger elders and those living with one or more persons, although neither age nor living situation was related to mental health. People who prayed more often and those who indicated a high importance of their faith scored higher in the mental health subscale, confirming the hypothesis for this dimension of health.