Study Shows In-Person Prayer Can Reduce Pain and Anxiety
A recent study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine revealed that a brief period of in-person prayer can significantly lessen pain and anxiety in adult patients. This randomized controlled trial found that just five minutes of prayer provided better and more lasting relief compared to listening to music.
Jesse Bradley, a pastor from Grace Community Church in Washington, highlighted the strength of prayer, stating, “Prayer is powerful and beneficial on many levels.”
The study noted that around 43% of Americans use prayer as a form of complementary medicine. The researchers specifically looked at a method called proximal intercessory prayer (PIP), which involves direct, face-to-face prayer for someone’s well-being.
How the Study Worked
The team involved 180 adult patients who reported experiencing moderate to severe pain or anxiety. After their regular medical appointments, participants were split into two groups. One group received five minutes of in-person Christian prayer from a trained volunteer, while the other group listened to music for the same amount of time.
Participants’ self-reported levels of pain and anxiety were evaluated at multiple points: immediately after the session, two weeks later, and again at six weeks. According to Dr. Katherine Jacobson, an assistant professor involved in the study, nearly all the participants—97%—felt neutral or positive about having prayer available during their medical visits.
The results showed that those in the prayer group experienced much greater reductions in both pain and anxiety. While both groups improved, the prayer group had more significant changes.
Insights from the Findings
Bradley, who was not part of the study, reflected on the transformative impact of prayer, sharing his own journey of healing through daily prayer. “It was essential in my healing journey,” he said.
The study’s findings suggested that the benefits of prayer were even longer-lasting for anxiety relief. Participants in the prayer group reported a notable decrease in anxiety not just immediately after the session, but also at the two- and six-week checkpoints.
Interestingly, the researchers found that the expectation of prayer’s effectiveness did not determine who benefited the most. Improvements were observed across a diverse range of patients, including those of different faiths or those who weren’t initially hopeful about the prayer’s effects.
Future Considerations
While this study highlights the potential benefits of prayer in medical settings, the researchers noted some limitations. They acknowledged that they could not definitively prove that prayer alone caused the improvements, as patients receiving prayer experienced human contact—a factor that may also influence pain relief.
The research team hopes to conduct further studies to include groups receiving human contact without prayer to better isolate the effects. They believe that incorporating trained prayer practitioners into healthcare settings could provide a low-cost, supportive option for patients seeking relief from pain and anxiety.
This research emphasizes the importance of addressing spiritual care preferences as part of overall health, showing how simple interventions like prayer can positively impact patient well-being.
