The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Mental and Physical Health

2001/02/01 by Kevin S. Seybold, Peter C. Hill · 5 citations
Medicine · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Alternative medicine #Clinical psychology #Medicine #Mental health #Physical health #Psychology #Psychotherapist #Religion and Society Interactions #Religion, Society, and Development #Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology #Social psychology #Spiritual Health #Spirituality

paper · doi:10.1111/1467-8721.00106

openalex publication_date 2001/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

An increased interest in the effects of religion and spirituality on health is apparent in the psychological and medical literature. Although religion in particular was thought, in the past, to have a predominantly negative influence on health, recent research suggests this relationship is more complex. This article reviews the literature on the impact of religion and spirituality on physical and mental health, concluding that the influence is largely beneficial. Mechanisms for the positive effect of religion and spirituality are proposed.

Citations

• Conceptualizing Religion and Spirituality: Points of Commonality, Points of Departure

Cited by

• How Do “Religion” and “Spirituality” Differ? Lay Definitions Among Older Adults
• Prenatal and infant conditioning, the mother schema, and the origins of music and religion
• Religious Involvement, Spirituality, and Medicine: Implications for Clinical Practice
• Religion [wikipedia]
• Spirituality [wikipedia]