News

Hayward, Krause et al. find belief in divine control over health linked to worse health outcomes, but greater life satisfaction

October 10, 2016

Rodney Hayward, Neal Krause, and colleagues found that people holding religious beliefs that externalize health control – belief in miraculous healing or in divine responsibility for health outcomes – had worse health outcomes than others. The belief that health is in God’s hands may contribute to a sense of fatalism about personal health efforts, which contributes to worse health, but it is also linked to greater satisfaction with life. The authors say: “Religious beliefs emphasizing divine control over health may have negative consequences for health outcomes, although the same beliefs may contribute to a better sense of life satisfaction.”

More about Hayward, Krause et al. find belief in divine control over health linked to worse health outcomes, but greater life satisfaction >