A groundbreaking study by researchers at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found that worship might actually help people live longer.
Led by Professor Tyler VanderWeele, the study followed over 74,000 women for more than 16 years and discovered that those who attended religious services at least once a week had a 33% lower risk of early death compared to those who didn’t.
One possible reason for this is the biological and psychological impact of religious experiences. Worship, prayer, and singing can trigger the release of endorphins and oxytocin, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, which help reduce stress, anxiety, and inflammation.
Studies have also found that deep spiritual practices, such as prayer and meditation, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to lower heart rates, reduced cortisol levels, and improved overall health.
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Another study, published on PLOS One, found that regular service attendance was linked to reductions in the body’s stress responses and even in mortality–so much so that worshippers were 55% less likely to die during the up to 18-year follow-up period than people who didn’t frequent the temple, church or mosque.
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