Report – Faith & Happiness: How Religious Belief Shapes Britain’s Emotional Wellbeing

Faith boosts life-satisfaction

• Muslims were most likely to feel a sense of harmony (77%) and acceptance (80%) in life. Both Muslims and Christians reported far fewer regrets (43% and 41%) than the non-religious (26%), and placed more value on community: 77% of Muslims and 76% of Christians said talking to others is important, compared to just 68% of non-religious respondents.
• Faith identity (believing and belonging) correlates more strongly with wellbeing than regular participation in communal worship, which offers only marginal additional benefit.

Persons of faith reported less worry and more resilience

• Muslims and Christians were markedly less anxious than non-religious participants and more confident in managing life’s challenges. 43% of Muslims and 49% of Christians versus 37% of those without faith were less likely to feel overwhelmed by time pressures, and showed less generalised anxiety.
• The difference between faith and non-faith groups in subjective measures of worry and anxiety was marginally more pronounced for Muslims and Christians who worship regularly than those who attended collective worship less than once a month.

Faith guards against depression and pessimism

• Muslims and Christians (both 78%) were more positive in their outlooks on life in difficult times compared to those without faith (69%), and more optimistic about the future (68% of Muslims and 58% of Christians compared to 47% of those without faith). 84% of Christians and 79% of Muslims accepted that hardships will always pass compared to 77% of those without faith.
• Those without faith reported more sadness (38% compared to 34% of Muslims and 30% of Christians), low energy and motivation (64% compared to 58% of Christians and 55% of Muslims), and despair (34% compared to 32% of Muslims and 27% of Christians). This effect was less pronounced among Christians and Muslims participating in frequent communal worship.

Faith communities buffer against loneliness

• People of faith experienced more togetherness (38% of Muslims and 35% of Christians, compared to 23% of those without faith) and meaningful contact with others (43% of Christians and 38% of Muslims, compared to 31% of those without faith). More Christians (45%) and Muslims (43%) reported frequent contact with people who care about them than those without faith (38%). Engagement in regular communal worship marginally enhanced this effect.

Faith creates a stronger sense of personal agency and control

• 81% of Muslims and 78% of Christians said they felt in control of their mental health, compared to 68% of non-believers, and had greater confidence in themselves to meet demands in life (66% of Muslims and 48% of Christians compared to 36% of those without faith). They were also more likely to advocate the need for greater resilience to handle hardship in life compared to those without faith (85% of Muslims and 82% of Christians compared to 70% of those without faith).

Women experience more worry and frequent low moods than men

• More than half of women (54%) said they often feel overwhelmed, compared to just 36% of men. They also reported higher levels of sadness (36% compared to 33% of men), low energy (65% versus 54%), and despair (33% versus 29%). Men were more confident in their ability to handle problems and less prone to anxiety.

Anxiety and loneliness were highest in younger populations

• Young people, especially those aged 18-24, showed the highest levels of anxiety and loneliness. 62% of 18–24s said they feel overwhelmed by worry (compared to just 22% of 65+), and had low confidence in their ability to solve their problems. Young people were also most likely to worry about future tasks (59% of 25-34s and 58% of 18-24s compared to 26% of 65+), and to worry when feeling under pressure (71% of 25-34s and 70% of 18-24s compared to 50% of 65+).
• 18-24 year olds reported experiencing a sense of loneliness (19% compared to 11% of 65+), a lack of companionship (17% compared to 8% of 65+), and feeling they have no one to turn to (13% compared to 5% of 65+).

Wellbeing highest in Northern Ireland

• More respondents from Northern Ireland felt their life to be balanced (70% compared to the lowest from London at 61%), and reported a higher acceptance of life’s conditions (75% compared to the lowest from the East Midlands and Yorkshire Humberside at 63%) and the fewest regrets (40% compared to the lowest from the East Midlands at 31%).
• They showed the highest levels of optimism (62%) and positivity about life (83%), and were the most likely to frequently experience a sense of togetherness with others (36%), have meaningful social interactions (52%), and contact with those who care about them (59%).