Does belief in divine purpose reduce stress during illness? Research shows that for many people, yes, it often helps by providing comfort, better coping tools, and even physical health benefits, though results vary by individual and situation.
When facing a serious illness, stress can feel overwhelming. Thoughts of pain, uncertainty, and loss pile up, making everything harder. But believing in a divine purpose, like feeling your life has a higher meaning guided by God or a spiritual force, can change that. Studies find that people with strong spiritual or religious beliefs report less stress. For instance, 91 percent of those with faith say it helps them cope with illness, leading to more peace and fewer hospital stays.https://davidoyermd.com/spirituality-in-medicine-rediscovering-an-ancient-dimension-of-healing/[5]
One big reason is coping. Spiritual beliefs offer ways to handle tough times, such as prayer, forgiveness, or seeing challenges as part of a bigger plan. These practices lower stress by changing how people view problems. A brain scan study showed spiritual activities calm stress reactions in the mind, helping control emotions even under pressure.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12731188/[1] Regular spiritual habits also build supportive communities that cut risky behaviors and improve sleep, which fights stress from illness.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12731188/[1]
In specific groups, this holds true. Muslim parents with a child battling cancer used trust in God, called tawakkul, to boost emotional strength and feel more supported.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1717898/full[2] Prayer and mindful devotion in tough spots like war or displacement reduced anxiety and helped reframe stress positively.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1717898/full[2] Psychiatry experts note religion and spirituality aid mental health across conditions like depression, giving core values like compassion that promote healthy living and social ties.https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/religion-and-spirituality-in-psychiatry-and-mental-health-clinical-considerations[3]
Body benefits appear too. Spiritual practices trigger a relaxation response, dropping blood pressure, easing pain, and curbing inflammation linked to stress.https://davidoyermd.com/spirituality-in-medicine-rediscovering-an-ancient-dimension-of-healing/[5] They even ease fears about death in mysterious illnesses by offering supernatural comfort.https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2511006122[6]
Not every case works the same. Religious doubts or negative experiences can raise stress, and in some like war among women, strong beliefs sometimes worsened distress.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10508619.2025.2605369?mi=h0fbk8[9] Harmful religious settings may cause trauma with anxiety and trust issues.https://tobybarrontherapy.com/blog/religious-trauma-syndrome/[4] Still, positive faith practices generally protect mental health during illness.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12731188/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1717898/full
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/religion-and-spirituality-in-psychiatry-and-mental-health-clinical-considerations
https://tobybarrontherapy.com/blog/religious-trauma-syndrome/
https://davidoyermd.com/spirituality-in-medicine-rediscovering-an-ancient-dimension-of-healing/
https://www.pnas.or
