ScienceDaily: Spirituality News

Power of prayer: Studies find prayer can lead to cooperation, forgiveness in relationships

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:41:41 EDT

Praying for a romantic partner or close friend can lead to more cooperative and forgiving behavior toward the partner, according to a new study.

Relationship troubles? Some sad music might help you feel better

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Consumers experiencing relationship problems are more likely to prefer aesthetic experiences that reflect their negative mood, according to a new study.

Social connections drive the 'upward spiral' of positive emotions and health

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:35:35 EDT

People who experience warmer, more upbeat emotions may have better physical health because they make more social connections, according to a new study.

Study identifies genes, pathways altered during relaxation response practice

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:32:32 EDT

A new study finds that elicitation of the relaxation response -- a physiologic state of deep rest induced by practices such as meditation, deep breathing and prayer -- produces immediate changes in the expression of genes involved in immune function, energy metabolism and insulin secretion.

Faith in God positively influences treatment for individuals with psychiatric illness

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

Belief in God may significantly improve the outcome of those receiving short-term treatment for psychiatric illness, according to a recent study.

Body size conveyed by voice determines vocal attractiveness

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:51:51 EDT

Deep male voices and high-pitched female voices are perceived as more attractive because listeners gauge the speaker's body size from the frequency of their voice, according to new research.

Brain-behavior associations: Researchers look at ties between early social experiences and adolescent brain function

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:59:59 EDT

Brains develop in the context of experience. Social experiences may be particularly relevant for developing neural circuits related to the experience of feeling or emotion. Factors such as negative life events and the quality of relationships also matter. New findings come from four large, longitudinal studies of high-risk adolescents from varied backgrounds.

Mindfulness therapy might help veterans with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EDT

A new study shows that veterans with PTSD who completed a mindfulness-based group treatment plan showed a significant reduction in symptoms as compared to patients who underwent treatment as normal.

New research examines the spiritual, psychological and other under-appreciated effects of opioids on patients with sickle cell disease

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:42:42 EDT

Researchers sought to shed light on the biopsychosocial and spiritual effects of taking prescribed opioids to treat noncancer pain. Such questions have received little examination and impact the challenging decision of when and how to use opioids, the study authors said. They found that taking opioids had many and diverse consequences for patients in terms of biological, psychological, social and spiritual functioning.

Meditating before lecture leads to better grades

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:18:18 EDT

A new study shows that meditation before class might help students, especially freshmen, focus better and retain information. A random selection of students followed basic meditation instructions before a lecture, and the students who meditated before the lecture scored better on a quiz that followed than students who did not meditate.

Mind over matter? Core body temperature controlled by the brain

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:48:48 EDT

Scientists have shown, for the first time, that it is possible for core body temperature to be controlled by the brain. The scientists found that core body temperature increases can be achieved using certain meditation techniques (g-tummo) which could help in boosting immunity to fight infectious diseases or immunodeficiency.

Suicide risk linked to rates of gun ownership, political conservatism

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:40:40 EDT

Residents of states with the highest rates of gun ownership and political conservatism are at greater risk of suicide than those in states with less gun ownership and less politically conservative leanings, according to a new study.

Can meditation make you a more compassionate person?

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:15:15 EDT

Scientists have mostly focused on the benefits of meditation for the brain and the body, but a recent study takes a look at what impacts meditation has on interpersonal harmony and compassion.

Mindfulness from meditation associated with lower stress hormone

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:23:23 EDT

Focusing on the present rather than letting the mind drift may help to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, suggests new research from the Shamatha Project at the University of California, Davis.

Memories of near death experiences: More real than reality?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:03:03 EDT

Researchers have demonstrated that the physiological mechanisms triggered during near death experiences (NDE) lead to a more vivid perception not only of imagined events in the history of an individual but also of real events which have taken place in their lives. These surprising results – obtained using an original method -- now require further investigation.

Telling tales can be a good thing: Personal stories help children develop emotional skills

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:30:30 EDT

A new study finds mothers tell better, more emotional stories about past experiences which help children develop their emotional skills. The act of talking is not an area where ability is usually considered along gender lines. However, a new study has found subtle differences between the sexes in their story-relating ability and specifically the act of reminiscing.

Mindfulness at school reduces (likelihood of) depression-related symptoms in adolescents

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 09:59:59 EDT

Secondary school students who follow an in-class mindfulness program report reduced indications of depression, anxiety and stress up to six months later. Moreover, these students were less likely to develop pronounced depression-like symptoms.

Know thyself: How mindfulness can improve self-knowledge

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:02:02 EDT

Mindfulness -- paying attention to one's current experience in a non-judgmental way -- might help us to learn more about our own personalities, according to a new article.

Americans and religion increasingly parting ways

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:04:04 EDT

Religious affiliation in the United States is at its lowest point since it began to be tracked in the 1930s, according to analysis of newly released survey data. Last year, one in five Americans claimed they had no religious preference, more than double the number reported in 1990.

Better living through mindfulness

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:46:46 EST

Results of a new study suggest that mindfulness -- awareness of the present moment -- may be linked to self-regulation throughout the day, and this may be an important contributor to better emotional and physical well-being.

Majority of Albertans support assisted suicide, Canadian study shows

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:07:07 EST

New research gauges public opinion about assisted suicide as part of an ongoing legal, moral and health policy discussion in Canada.

Parents, religion guard against college drinking

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:09:09 EST

Religious college students report less alcohol use than their classmates -- and the reason may have to do with how their parents handle stress, according to new research.

Children of divorced parents more likely to switch, pull away from religions

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:09:09 EST

Adults whose parents were divorced are more likely to switch religions or disassociate themselves from institutional religions altogether -- but growing up in a single-parent family does not have any effect on private religious life, including praying, according to a new study.

What predicts distress after episodes of sleep paralysis?

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:35:35 EST

Ever find yourself briefly paralyzed as you're falling asleep or just waking up? It's a phenomenon called sleep paralysis, and it's often accompanied by vivid sensory or perceptual experiences, including complex and disturbing hallucinations and intense fear. For some, sleep paralysis is a once-in-a-lifetime experience; for others, it can be a nightly phenomenon.

Moments of spirituality can induce liberal attitudes, researchers find

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:15:15 EST

People become more politically liberal immediately after practising a spiritual exercise such as meditation, researchers have found.

Christianity influences meat taboos in Amazon

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:41:41 EST

The introduction of Christianity has changed the hunting habits of indigenous people in the Amazon. While some new practices could benefit animals, others could put populations at risk.

Neural basis for benefits of meditation

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:23:23 EST

Mindfulness meditation training in awareness of present moment experience, such as body and breath sensations, prevents depression and reduces distress in chronic pain. Scientists have now proposed a neurophysiological framework to explain these clinical benefits.

Asians are far more likely than Anglos to be college-educated

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:49:49 EST

Asians (about 60 percent) are much more likely to be college-educated than Anglos (under 40 percent), according to the Houston Area Asian Survey.

Potential of psilocybin to alleviate psychological and spiritual distress in cancer patients is revealed

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:50:50 EST

A recently published book chapter reviews the potential of a novel psychoactive drug, psilocybin, in alleviating the psychological and spiritual distress that often accompanies a life-threatening cancer diagnosis.

Mindfulness meditation heightens a listener's musical engagement

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:24:24 EST

When De'Anthony Thomas returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the 2013 Fiesta Bowl, says a researcher, Thomas put Ducks fans into a heightened zone of engagement for watching the game, not unlike what was experienced by music students who were first exposed to a brief session of mindfulness meditation before hearing an opera passage.

'First time' may predict lifelong sexual satisfaction

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:47:47 EST

The first sexual experience can set the tone for the rest of one's sexual life, according to new research.

Sociologists find similarities in meanings behind protestant work ethic, religious tattoos

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:33:33 EST

The reasoning behind getting religious-themed tattoos is strikingly similar to a 100-year-old theory about how the Protestant work ethic powered the Industrial Revolution.

Mindfulness meditation may relieve chronic inflammation

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:35:35 EST

People suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma — in which psychological stress plays a major role — may benefit from mindfulness meditation techniques, according to a new study.

Psychological common ground could ease tensions among those with different religious beliefs

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:10:10 EST

A new study found that thoughts of death increased atheists, Christians, Muslims and agnostics conviction in their own world views. For example, contrary to the wartime aphorism that there are no atheists in foxholes, thoughts of death did not cause atheists to express belief in a deity.

Generational changes cause drop in U. S. support for school prayer

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 07:30:30 EST

A new study maps a decline in advocacy for school prayer starting in the 1970s and accelerating as skeptical Baby Boomers became ascendant. Support remains markedly lower today among Catholics and mainline Protestants yet unwaveringly high among evangelicals.

Increase in negative messages about Muslims in the media, study shows

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:30:30 EST

Organizations using fear and anger to spread negative messages about Muslims have moved from the fringes of public discourse into the mainstream media since the Sept. 11 attacks, according to new research.

Experience of genocide as transmitted trauma may not be universal

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:56:56 EST

A new comparative study finds genocidal legacies are not experienced as trauma across cultures.

Brazilian mediums shed light on brain activity during a trance state

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:45:45 EST

Researchers analyzed the cerebral blood flow (CBF) of Brazilian mediums during the practice of psychography, described as a form of writing whereby a deceased person or spirit is believed to write through the medium’s hand. The new research revealed intriguing findings of decreased brain activity during mediumistic dissociative state which generated complex written content

Four family cultures of America identified

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:25:25 EST

Four types of family cultures – the Faithful, the Engaged Progressives, the Detached and the American Dreamers – are molding the next generation of Americans, a three-year study finds.

Evolving roles of hospice and palliative care

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:16:16 EST

Many people think hospice and palliative care come at the end of life, and while both often play a key role then, palliative care also can provide pain relief, symptom control, emotional comfort and spiritual support as patients recover from serious illnesses.

Novice or expert: How do consumers increase their knowledge about products?

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:33:33 EST

Consumers seek out novel consumption experiences to increase their knowledge about products but do so selectively based on their level of expertise, according to a new study.

Meditation may reduce death, heart attack and stroke in heart patients

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:15:15 EST

Twice-a-day Transcendental Meditation helped African Americans with heart disease reduce risk of death, heart attack and stroke. Meditation helped patients lower their blood pressure, stress and anger compared with patients who attended a health education class. Regular Transcendental Meditation may improve long-term heart health.

Meditation appears to produce enduring changes in emotional processing in the brain

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 15:03:03 EST

A new study has found that participating in an eight-week meditation training program can have measurable effects on how the brain functions even when someone is not actively meditating. The researchers also found differences in those effects based on the specific type of meditation practiced.

Diabetes study: 'Mindful eating' equals traditional education in lowering weight and blood sugar

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:11:11 EST

Eating mindfully, or consuming food in response to physical cues of hunger and fullness, is just as effective as adhering to nutrition-based guidelines in reducing weight and blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.

Answer three 'why' questions: Abstract thinking can make you more politically moderate

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:19:19 EDT

Partisans beware! Some of your most cherished political attitudes may be malleable! Researchers report that simply answering three "why" questions on an innocuous topic leads people to be more moderate in their views on an otherwise polarizing political issue.

Church-going teens go further with school, U.S. study finds

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:19:19 EDT

A national U.S. study found religiously-affiliated youth are 40 percent more likely to graduate high school than their unaffiliated peers and 70 percent more likely to enroll in college.

More than good vibes: Researchers propose the science behind mindfulness

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:14:14 EDT

Achieving mindfulness through meditation has helped people maintain a healthy mind by quelling negative emotions and thoughts, such as desire, anger and anxiety, and encouraging more positive dispositions such as compassion, empathy and forgiveness. Those who have reaped the benefits of mindfulness know that it works. But how exactly does it work?

Cancer diagnosis does not make young people religious, research suggests

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:30:30 EDT

A sociologist of religion has interviewed 21 young patients diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer about their religious beliefs. She concludes that a cancer diagnosis will not make young people, who are not religious already, turn to religion. But it can confirm already existing beliefs.

Religious affiliation and residence in Muslim-majority nations influence sexual behavior, study finds

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:13:13 EDT

Hindus and Muslims are less likely than Christians and Jews to have premarital sex, and Muslims are the least likely among people of these religious groups to have extramarital sex, according to a new study that analyzed data on premarital and extramarital sexual behaviors in over 30 developing countries around the world.

Compassion meditation may boost neural basis of empathy, study finds

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:35:35 EDT

A compassion-based meditation program can significantly improve a person's ability to read the facial expressions of others, finds a new study. This boost in empathic accuracy was detected through both behavioral testing of the study participants and through functional magnetic resonance imaging scans of their brain activity. The meditation protocol, known as Cognitively-Based Compassion Training, or CBCT, is derived from ancient Tibetan Buddhist practices, although the program is secular in content and presentation.

Spirituality key to Chinese medicine success: Study explores why Chinese medicine has stood the test of time

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:25:25 EDT

Are the longevity and vitality of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due to its holistic approach? Indeed, Chinese medicine is not simply about treating illness, but rather about taking care of the whole person -- body, mind, and spirit. According to an analysis of TCM's origins and development, traditional Chinese medicine is profoundly influenced by Chinese philosophy and religion. To date, modern science has been unable to explain the mechanisms behind TCM's effects.

The more we know about celebrities, the less we like them

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:13:13 EDT

Clint Eastwood's famous interview with an invisible President Obama seated in an empty chair at the Republican National Convention may have done more than elicit a round of late-night television jokes. Celebrities who publicly support political candidates may want to think twice about doing so, according to a researcher who has found that those who are most vocal about political, religious, and social causes may pay with decreased popularity and a hit to their wallets.

People merge supernatural and scientific beliefs when reasoning with the unknown, study shows

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:53:53 EDT

A new psychology study finds adults are more likely than children to find supernatural explanations for existential questions.

Spirituality correlates to better mental health regardless of religion, say researchers

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:23:23 EDT

Despite differences in rituals and beliefs among the world's major religions, spirituality often enhances health regardless of a person's faith, according to researchers. The researchers believe that health care providers could take advantage of this correlation between health – particularly mental health – and spirituality by tailoring treatments and rehabilitation programs to accommodate an individual's spiritual inclinations.

Native American spiritual beliefs influential in spurring youth to avoid drugs and alcohol

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:08:08 EDT

New research indicates that urban Native American youth who follow the traditional spiritual beliefs are less likely to use drugs and alcohol.

God as a drug: The rise of American megachurches

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 15:35:35 EDT

American megachurches use stagecraft, sensory pageantry, charismatic leadership and an upbeat, unchallenging vision of Christianity to provide their congregants with a powerful emotional religious experience, according to new research.

Meditation reduces loneliness

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 21:36:36 EDT

Researchers now report that a simple meditation program lasting just eight weeks reduced loneliness in older adults. Further, knowing that loneliness is associated with an increase in the activity of inflammation-related genes that can promote many different diseases, the researchers report this same form of meditation significantly reduced expression of inflammatory genes.

Deeply held religious beliefs prompting sick kids to be given 'futile' treatment

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 20:30:30 EDT

Parental hopes of a "miraculous intervention," prompted by deeply held religious beliefs, are leading to very sick children being subjected to futile care and needless suffering, suggests a small study.

Medieval clerics resisted celibacy, historians say

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 08:51:51 EDT

Medieval clerics did not relish the prospect of giving up sex when the Papacy tried to introduce the principle of celibacy. Resistance was widespread, it was revealed at an academic conference where two historians are playing a key role in developing the burgeoning study area of medieval masculinity.

Lucid dreamers help scientists locate the seat of meta-consciousness in the brain

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:55:55 EDT

Studies of lucid dreamers show which centers of the brain become active when we become aware of ourselves in dreams. The human capacity of self-perception, self-reflection and consciousness development are among the unsolved mysteries of neuroscience. Now scientists are shedding new light on this area.