Yes — several studies and reviews report an association between prayer or related spiritual practices and lower cortisol or other indicators of reduced physiological stress, though findings vary by study design and population[2][3].
Why researchers think prayer might lower cortisol
– Prayer often produces a relaxation response similar to meditation or controlled breathing, and these responses are known to reduce hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis activation and cortisol release[2].
– Prayer can increase perceived social support, meaning and emotional regulation; those psychological changes are linked to lower stress physiology in multiple studies[2][3].
What the evidence shows
– Systematic reviews of spiritual and mind–body practices (including prayer, meditation, and yoga) report decreased cortisol and inflammatory markers after interventions in some studies, suggesting a plausible biological pathway from spiritual practice to lower stress hormones[2].
– Observational studies have found that higher frequency of prayer or greater importance of spirituality is associated with reduced markers of inflammation and, in some samples, lower cortisol or blunted cortisol response to stress[2].
– Some clinical and experimental reports link regular worship, prayer, or singing in religious settings with reductions in anxiety, depression, or cortisol in specific populations, though these effects are not universal across all studies[3][5].
Limitations and important caveats
– Causation is not established. Many studies are cross sectional or observational, so reduced cortisol could be a result of other factors that correlate with prayer (for example, greater social support, healthier lifestyle, or selection effects) rather than prayer itself[2].
– Study quality and methods vary. Small sample sizes, different measures of prayer (frequency, private vs communal, content), variable cortisol assessment protocols (salivary, serum, baseline vs response to stress), and short follow up limit comparability across studies[2].
– Publication bias and cultural context may influence results: positive findings may be more likely to be reported, and effects seen in religious or highly motivated groups might not generalize to all populations[2][3].
What this means for individuals
– For people who already pray or find spiritual practices meaningful, incorporating regular prayer may produce psychological benefits and help lower stress markers in some cases, likely because it combines focused attention, emotion regulation, and social or existential support[2][3].
– For those seeking stress reduction, evidence supports mind body practices such as meditation, controlled breathing, and certain forms of prayer or worship as possible tools, but they are best considered as one part of a broader stress-management plan that can include exercise, sleep, social connection, and professional care when needed[2].
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12731188/
https://relevantmagazine.com/current/science/the-neuroscience-of-worship/
https://www.prayerandpossibilities.com/importance-daily-prayer/
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/pope-leo-sings-so-should-we-science-says-its-good-us
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10508619.2025.2605369?mi=h0fbk8
