Researchers have embraced faith, exploring its role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent study conducted under the auspices of Cambridge University suggests that religious faith may have played a significant role in alleviating psychological distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers identified positive aspects that can help individuals cope with severe bodily stress during turbulent and health-threatening times, according to News Medical.

In a study carried out in the United Kingdom, scientists examined the mental health of individuals during the nationwide lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. The findings indicated that while the overall level of distress increased, those who identified as religious experienced a significantly smaller rise in distress compared to non-religious individuals.

Research published in the European Economic Review and conducted in the United States showed that believers experienced less severe deterioration in mental health after encountering COVID-19, both personally and within their social networks. In the British segment, economists analyzed data from 3,884 individuals, comparing mental health trends before and during the pandemic.

While lockdowns universally heightened suffering, those who identified with a religion saw their distress increase by 29% less. Further analysis revealed that the intensity of religious beliefs plays a crucial role—individuals for whom religion "changed a little or a lot" in their lives experienced only half the increase in stress compared to those for whom religion was of little significance.

The study accounted for demographic factors such as age and gender but still found that religious individuals were 20% less likely to experience heightened depression. Differences between major religious groups, including Christians, Muslims, and Hindus, were minimal, but some groups, particularly Catholics and Muslims, suffered more from the closure of places of worship during the initial lockdown.

An American study led by Professor Sri Ayer from Cambridge and her colleagues from other countries surveyed 5,178 individuals nationwide in early 2021. It found that nearly half of those who encountered COVID-19 personally or in their close circles reported a decline in mental health. Moreover, non-religious individuals experienced a 60% greater deterioration in well-being than those with moderate to high levels of religiosity.

The positive impact of religion on mental health was less pronounced in areas with strict isolation measures, suggesting that access to religious sites could have played a vital role in the psychological resilience of these individuals. Additionally, those who attended religious services online experienced a 40% lower correlation between COVID-19 infection and declining mental health.

Researchers propose that faith may exert psychological effects by enhancing self-esteem, improving coping skills, and providing social support. According to Professor Sean Larkin from the Department of Land Economy at Cambridge, the COVID-19 pandemic offered a unique opportunity to study how people from different backgrounds responded to a common crisis. He noted that in certain situations, religion can serve as a "bulwark against distress," helping individuals build resilience, find meaning, and maintain hope during challenging times.

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