Can prayer reduce existential dread in old age? Many older people face deep worries about life’s big questions, like what happens after death or if their life had real meaning. These feelings, often called existential dread, can make days feel empty and heavy. Prayer, a simple act of talking to a higher power, might help ease this by bringing comfort and a sense of purpose.
Studies show that spiritual practices like prayer link to better mental health in seniors. For example, research on older adults found that spiritual well-being goes hand in hand with stronger resilience and lower depression. One study looked at elderly people and saw that those with higher spiritual well-being felt more resilient against life’s stresses, including fears about existence itself.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13591053251391778 Prayer offers hope and meaning, shifting focus from loss to something bigger.
In one group of older diaspora adults, a program using prayer and chanting from ancient texts cut down stress and boosted quality of life. Participants said these practices helped them stay calm amid ups and downs, like offering worries to a divine figure at day’s end. This built emotional stability, key for handling existential fears.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1730103/full They described it as finding peace through devotion and detachment, not reacting wildly to bad news but seeing it as part of a larger plan.
Religiosity in general plays a role too. People recovering from tough times, like addiction, often turn to prayer for purpose. It helps them feel connected to something lasting, reducing dread about meaninglessness.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15426432.2025.2602866?src= For the elderly, this connection counters isolation and the sense that life is winding down without point.
Prayer works because it is personal and free. No special tools needed, just quiet time and sincere words. Older folks might pray alone, in groups, or through chants. Over time, it trains the mind to seek deeper answers, fostering optimism even in frail years. Real stories from studies back this, with seniors reporting less anxiety after regular practice.
Sources
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1730103/full
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13591053251391778
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15426432.2025.2602866?src=
