The Transformative Power of Prayer: How Prayer Changes Affect of Individuals in Highly Religious Families

Transcription

1 The Transformative Power of Prayer: How Prayer Changes Affect of Individuals in Highly Religious Families EMMA PORTER B.S. NATHANIEL M. LAMBERT PH.D. BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

2 Purpose Insufficient research suggests why and how religiosity positively impacts well-being. This study qualitatively examined religiosity s effect on well-being, focusing on prayer and affect.

3 Review of Literature Religion has a positive impact on mental and physical health (Seybold & Hill, 2001), life satisfaction (Ellison, 1991), and affect (Holt, Lewellyn, & Rathweg, 2005). Prayer is often the first place people turn in the midst of challenges or when experiencing negative affect (Argyle & Beit-Hallahmi, 1975). Spiritual Transformation Theory (Lambert, 2013)

4 Methodology Purposive sample (N = 184 families, 445 individuals) characterized by: a) a high level of religious commitment b) racial and ethnic diversity c) a wide range of socioeconomic and educational levels d) religious diversity (Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Mormons). Grounded Theory Approach

5 Results Negative Affect Anxiety over stressors Concern about sickness or danger Feeling overwhelmed by challenges Process Prayer 1. Closeness to God 2. Surrendering worry to God 3. Reliance on God Positive Affect Peace and freedom from worry Feelings of calm and safety Strength and assistance to endure challenges Figure 1: The Effect of Prayer on the Transformation of Affect

6 The Potential Dark Side of Prayer Despite generally positive results, in some instances prayer may have served as a process to transform one s affect in a negative direction.

7 The Potential Dark Side of Prayer Aadila, a Muslim female, admitted: I think there is a constant worry about the Day of Judgment. It s very personal, it s for myself, and I think when I pray I have worldly things to do, maybe cooking doing something about my children, anything, and my mind is not there. It bothers me that it may happen that God will not accept my prayer. So that concern, it does bother [me].

8 Process of Prayer In this study, prayer played a fundamental role in the transformation of affect. However, the participants used prayer in different and specific ways to bring about the change, including to draw closer to God, to surrender worry to God, and to rely solely on the act of prayer.

9 Process of Closeness to God For those interviewed, conversing with God throughout the day or simply turning to God during difficult times facilitated a closeness and strengthened relationship with God that helped transform their affect.

10 Process of Closeness to God Grace, a Baptist, said: "[To make it through stressful and challenging times], I pray... The most stressful situation does... bring you closer to God."

11 Process of Surrendering Worry to God By yielding worries to God, participants were freed of their heavy burdens and gained new perspectives and improvement in affect.

12 Process of Surrendering Worry to God Cheryl, a Baptist, expressed: There s somebody much greater who can carry those burdens for you. You don t need to be up all night worrying and caring We can cast all our cares upon the Lord, for He cares for us and He s going to take care of us and He s going to sustain us.

13 Process of Reliance on God Viewing God as someone they could depend on allowed participants to trust in God s power. Many expressed that prayer was often the first place they turned because it was the one reliable source they could hold on to.

14 Process of Reliance on God Raima, a Muslim, stated simply: If I have trouble, I leave everything, I go to pray.

15 Examples of Transformation from Negative Affect to Positive Affect In addition to the processes by which participants transformed their affect, the data also revealed three key ways in which affect was transformed.

16 Example of Anxiety Over Stressors Several interviewees shared how daily stressors and worries made them feel overwhelmed. The stresses of each day did not overburden individuals, however, if they turned to prayer. Prayer seemed to bring the peace and freedom from worry that participants were seeking.

17 Example of Anxiety Over Stressors Destiny, a Non-Denominational Christian, shared how she avoided negative affect, as she surrendered worry to God through prayer: Usually, when I m stressed or have moments of anxiety, I pray I don t go through a lot of stress I leave it in God s hands. I really have had some things that could have shipped me and kept me depressed, but I just pray about it and leave it alone.

18 Example of Concern About Sickness or Danger In many instances, participants expressed how sickness or danger brought feelings of distress that needed calming. Through prayer, this concern was alleviated, and they felt calm and safe again.

19 Example of Concern About Sickness or Danger Luiz, a Catholic, explained how reliance on God transformed his affect: After September 11th I began to pray a lot, to ask God to help me feel safe again I don t know if my prayers have been answered in a sense that I asked that there would be no more wars or terrorism and that happened. I think it s more just how I feel about things.

20 Example of Feeling Overwhelmed by Challenges Feeling overwhelmed by challenges and a desire for assistance were apparent in many of the interviews. Participants reported a desire for divine strength to help them ward off feelings of being overwhelmed.

21 Example of Feeling Overwhelmed by Challenges Juan, a Latter-day Saint, expressed how closeness to God gave him the strength and support he needed: [When] my father died I lost my soul and my life and I lived through the loss until I found the gospel The refuge that [the gospel] gives, the faith, the hope, everything, I go to the Lord. I talk to Him, I pray to Him, I cry to Him, I have my faith in everything and He supports me. That's what the gospel does for me.

22 Figure 1: The Effect of Prayer on the Transformation of Affect Negative Affect Process Positive Affect Anxiety over stressors Concern about sickness or danger Feeling overwhelmed by challenges Prayer 1. Closeness to God 2. Surrendering worry to God 3. Reliance on God Peace and freedom from worry Feelings of calm and safety Strength and assistance to endure challenges

23 Limitations The sample was limited to individuals of Abrahamic faiths. The majority of participants were middle-class highlyeducated Caucasians. The study focused primarily on prayer and affect. Further research could expand on this, looking at other aspects of religiosity and well-being.

24 Implications When a change in affect is desired, prayer may be a potential release from negativity. Religious individuals seeking insight about spiritual activities as potential coping resources Therapists working with religious persons

25 References Argyle, M., & Beit-Hallahmi, B. (1975). The Social Psychology of Religion. London, England: Routledge. Ellison, C.G. (1991). Religious involvement and subjective wellbeing. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 32, Holt, C. L., Lewellyn, L. A., & Rathweg, M. J. (2005). Exploring religion-health mediators among African American parishioners. Journal of Health Psychology, 10(4), Lambert, N. M. (2013). Spiritual Transformation Theory. Unpublished Manuscript. Seybold, K. S., & Hill, P. C. (2001). The role of religion and spirituality in mental and physical health. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 10(1),