Does prayer increase spiritual readiness for death? Many people turn to prayer when facing the end of life, hoping it builds inner strength and peace. Research shows mixed results, but some studies suggest prayer can help people cope better with fears about dying, making them feel more prepared spiritually.
In one study from Turkey, researchers looked at 150 heart failure patients. These folks often worry a lot about death. The team found that as death anxiety went up, patients used more positive religious coping, like prayer and talking to God. This coping was linked to their anxiety levels, even after checking other factors. The study says higher anxiety leads to more positive religious behaviors, which might help patients feel more ready spiritually by leaning on faith.https://spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/files/2025/09/CSTH-Newsletter_Oct_2025.pdf
Prayer works like a form of meditation that calms the body and mind. It supports the rest-and-digest system, cutting stress hormones like cortisol. This can ease anxiety and depression, lift mood, and even help with pain. Spiritual prayer seems better than regular relaxation at reducing worry and boosting spiritual health and pain tolerance. For someone nearing death, this calm could build readiness by fostering peace and positive feelings.https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/the-miracles-that-power-resilience
Nurses and caregivers also see prayer’s role in end-of-life care. Training in spiritual care helps them support patients’ faith practices, like prayer. Students who learn this feel more skilled at assessing spiritual needs and planning care around them. Over time, this builds confidence in handling death-related spiritual issues, suggesting prayer strengthens patients’ own readiness too.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12729864/
Not every study agrees prayer always helps. Some faith doubts can worsen mood if mixed with certain beliefs. Still, for many, regular prayer rewires the mind for better focus and emotional control, key for facing death without fear.
Sources
https://spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/files/2025/09/CSTH-Newsletter_Oct_2025.pdf
https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/the-miracles-that-power-resilience
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12729864/
