How Religiosity Lifts Mental Health Through Gratitude and Connection

A new study has explored how religiosity influences mental health by boosting gratitude and social connections. Researchers Ethan D. Lantz and Danielle K. Nadorff examined data from over 1,600 participants to uncover the psychological mechanisms at play. Their findings suggest that the benefits of religiosity may stem from these two key factors rather than faith alone.

The research drew on responses from 1,052 individuals in the MIDUS 2 dataset and 625 from the MIDUS Refresher dataset. Participants' levels of religiosity—defined as beliefs, practices, and community ties—were measured alongside their mental well-being. Earlier studies, including meta-analyses from 2010 to 2025, had already shown that religiosity often correlates with lower depression and stress, though past results sometimes varied due to smaller sample sizes.

The team hypothesised that higher religiosity would lead to greater gratitude and stronger social support, both of which could improve mental health. Their analysis confirmed this full mediation model: the positive link between religiosity and well-being disappeared when gratitude and social support were accounted for. This implies that these two factors entirely explain the relationship.

While the study advances understanding of religiosity's psychological effects, its cross-sectional design means it cannot prove causation. Previous research, such as work by Koenig et al. (2012) and VanderWeele et al. (2023), had also highlighted religiosity's protective role, but with less clarity on the underlying reasons.

The findings suggest that gratitude and social support are central to religiosity's mental health benefits. Unlike earlier studies with mixed results, this research provides a clearer picture of how faith-related practices may contribute to well-being. However, further longitudinal studies would be needed to confirm whether religiosity directly causes these positive outcomes.