Religious Service Attendance Linked to Higher Flourishing Globally

Regular attendance at religious services is consistently associated with higher flourishing scores across almost all countries studied in a groundbreaking global well-being assessment, researchers report. The pattern holds true even in highly secular nations like Sweden, challenging assumptions about diminishing relevance of religious communities in promoting well-being in developed societies.

This finding emerges from the Global Flourishing Study released this week by Harvard and Baylor universities, which surveyed over 207,000 participants across 22 countries. The research examined six key dimensions of flourishing: happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships, and financial security, revealing patterns that transcend cultural and economic differences.

The “Four B’s” of Religious Community Benefits

Researchers attribute the flourishing advantage among regular religious service attendees to what psychologists of religion call the “four B’s”: belonging through social support, bonding via spiritual connection, behaving through character cultivation, and believing through shared convictions and hope.

“People who go to religious services once a week or more typically reported higher scores in all areas of flourishing – particularly happiness, meaning and relationships,” notes the research team in their report published in Nature Mental Health. This pattern remained remarkably consistent across diverse cultural contexts, suggesting universal elements in how religious communities may foster well-being.

Interestingly, the study also observed that some religious service attendees report more pain or suffering. Researchers theorize this correlation may stem from religious communities providing support during difficult times, potentially attracting individuals experiencing hardship, or fostering greater awareness of suffering through theological frameworks.

Beyond Individual Practices: The Community Factor

The flourishing advantage appears specifically connected to communal religious participation rather than private spiritual practices alone. This finding aligns with broader social science research indicating that regular meaningful connection with others serves as a primary predictor of long-term well-being.

“This reinforces what we’re seeing throughout the Global Flourishing Study data—human connection is crucial for a good life,” explains Felix Cheung, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and co-author of a chapter in the World Happiness Report. The communal aspect of religious participation may explain why this correlation persists even in highly secular societies.

The findings suggest that rather than focusing exclusively on individual spiritual or psychological practices, effective flourishing interventions might benefit from incorporating communal elements. Communities that foster belonging, shared purpose, and ethical development appear particularly beneficial for well-being across cultural contexts.

Implications for Secular Societies

For highly secular countries like Sweden and Japan, which scored lower on meaning and relationships despite economic prosperity, the findings present both challenges and opportunities. The study suggests that declining religious participation in developed nations may partially explain why economic advancement doesn’t necessarily translate to proportional gains in overall flourishing.

“We need to consider what secular equivalents might provide similar benefits to religious communities,” suggests Dr. Lisa Reynolds, social psychologist specializing in community well-being at NYU, who wasn’t involved in the study. “Civic organizations, community groups, and other forms of meaningful collective engagement could potentially fill similar roles.”

The research team emphasizes that while individual choices and practices contribute significantly to flourishing, structural and community factors play an equally important role. Their findings indicate that fostering environments where people can develop meaningful connections, shared purpose, and ethical frameworks may be as important for well-being as individual psychological interventions.