Spirituality: How Does It Affect Mental Health?

Developing your sense of spirituality can impact your mental wellness and help you live a more fulfilled life.

In today’s fast-paced world, many people feel a spiritual void—feeling disconnected from themselves, other people, their surroundings, and their purpose in life. Psychiatric research increasingly suggests that a lack of spirituality is associated with increased risk for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. Conversely, having a sense of spirituality enhances mental well-being and cognitive function. Why?

Spirituality doesn’t require that you follow a religion—instead it’s about finding a sense of purpose and connecting with others on something greater than yourself. In fact, a Pew Research Center study found about 41% of U.S. adults say they’ve grown more spiritual over the course of their lifetime, and 24% say they have become more religious.

That’s why understanding what you need can help you feel more connected, happier, and healthier beyond what’s right in front of you. Now, we’ll explore how developing your sense of spirituality can impact your mental wellness and help you live a more fulfilled life.

WHAT DOES SPIRITUALITY MEAN?

First, it’s important to note that spirituality is deeply personal. While some people equate it with religion, spirituality actually extends beyond religious beliefs, according to a 2020 study in Frontiers in Psychology.

It’s also more than your actions—it’s about a sense of connection to yourself, your values, and the world around you. Whether you find spirituality in nature, meditation, or through meaningful relationships, the goal is to use it as a guide to finding purpose, direction, and a sense of belonging.

Spirituality can help you explore your inner self and build a deeper understanding of what truly matters to you…and why. Ultimately, it serves as a foundation for your emotional well-being, personal growth, and mental health long-term.

HOW DOES SPIRITUALITY AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH?

1. Strengthens Your Mind-Body Connection

The connection between the mind and body is profound, and spirituality often serves as the bridge between the two. Spirituality encourages mindfulness and awareness, allowing you to tune into your body’s signals and manage emotions more effectively. This can reduce the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.

According to Dr. Daniel Amen, the founder of Amen Clinics, incorporating mindfulness practices like meditation can enhance cognitive well-being by improving concentration and emotional regulation.

A 2021 study found that meditation actually changes the brain regions related to emotion regulation, increasing self-compassion, mindfulness and meta-cognition. Spirituality enables that mind-body connection that nurtures your emotional health so you can better care for your overall well-being.

2. Enhances Your Cognitive Well-Being and Brain Health

Spiritual fitness is a way to maintain that link between your mental wellness and brain health. You can engage in regular spiritual practices to help improve brain function by reducing stress like:

These activities help lower cortisol levels, a stress hormone known to damage brain cells when elevated for long periods. They also promote the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which enhance mood and cognitive clarity. Investing time and practice into your spiritual fitness can also enhance neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt to new information.

Enhancing that spiritual connection has been shown to create stronger neural connections and increase activity in the prefrontal cortex—the area of the brain responsible for decision-making, self-awareness, and problem-solving.

By enhancing spiritual fitness, you can improve your cognitive well-being, protect your brain from age-related decline, and boost your ability to think clearly, process emotions, and adapt to new challenges.

3. Gives You a Sense of Connection

One of the most significant ways spirituality affects mental health is through the act of service. Being of service to others creates a sense of purpose and connection—two vital components of mental wellness.

Whether it’s volunteering, helping a friend in need, or simply offering a kind word to a stranger, these acts of kindness can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Dr. Amen often emphasizes the importance of giving back to others as a way to improve brain health. Studies show that altruism and acts of service are linked to increased happiness, lower stress levels, and even longer lifespans.

Research published in 2023 found that people who volunteered regularly had a lower risk of mortality, reported higher levels of life satisfaction, increased functioning, quality of life, social support, and sense of connection. Findings in a 2022 study in Plos One suggest that when we serve others, we experience bonding, stronger social community, and personal fulfillment that boosts our mental health and fosters a sense of community.

4. Provides Comfort and Promotes Emotional Stability

Having faith in yourself and something bigger than yourself can be a critical part of your mental wellness. Whether through belief in a higher power, the universe, or the natural world, your spirituality can provide the foundation for your faith.

This faith doesn’t have to be religious. Instead, focusing on your belief in the interconnectedness of life and the idea that everything happens for a reason can be sufficient.

Faith in oneself—along with the belief that there is a greater and more positive meaning to life’s challenges—can bring comfort and promote emotional stability. Some research even suggests that it can reduce fear or death anxiety.

This kind of faith also helps people to build resilience and face life’s ups and downs with strength, grace, and compassion. The key is to put your faith into action that positively affects you and those around you in a more meaningful way.

5. Strengthens Your Resilience

Developing a sense of purpose is an essential step in strengthening your resilience and mental well-being. Without it, people often feel lost, unmotivated, and anxious.

Spirituality can help you uncover your unique purpose, whether through work, relationships, or personal growth. Having a clear sense of purpose gives you direction and motivation that enhances your connection with others, cognitive well-being and emotional balance.

One meta-analysis study found that people with a strong sense of purpose in life had a 30% reduced risk of developing cognitive decline as they aged. Additionally, those who live with purpose report lower rates of depression and anxiety. A 2019 UCSD research study confirms that finding meaning in life leads to better health outcomes and increase cognitive functioning.

That said, finding your purpose isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. It’s a personal process that evolves over time. For some, it may come through serving God or through their career. For others, it might be found in their role as a parent, friend, or community member. In general, it starts by finding the reason within yourself to want to create or be part of something meaningful beyond yourself.

We Are Here For You

Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.

Kallo, A. (2024, January 17). Around 4 in 10 Americans have become more spiritual over time; fewer have become more religious. Pew Research Center. www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/17/around-4-in-10-americans-have-become-more-spiritual-over-time-fewer-have-become-more-religious

Bożek, A., Nowak, P. F., & Blukacz, M. (2020). The relationship between spirituality, health-related behavior, and psychological well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 1997. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01997

Pascoe, M. C., de Manincor, M., Tseberja, J., Hallgren, M., Baldwin, P. A., & Parker, A. G. (2021). Psychobiological mechanisms underlying the mood benefits of meditation: A narrative review. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology, 6, 100037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100037

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Brubaker, M. (2019, December 10). Have you found meaning in life? Answer determines health and well-being. UC San Diego. https://today.ucsd.edu/story/have-you-found-meaning-in-life-answer-determines-health-and-well-being

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