Online prayer gave breast cancer patients a big mental health boost, proving that connecting with a higher power works even in cyberspace, says a study done by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center of Excellence in Cancer Communications Research.
“From a psychological standpoint, there are a variety of reasons why cancer patients may benefit from prayer, whether on the Internet or elsewhere,” says Bret Shaw, lead study author. “Some of the most common ways study participants used religion to cope with their illness included putting trust in God about the course of their illness and consequently feeling less stressed, believing in an afterlife and therefore being less afraid of death, finding blessings in their lives and appraising their cancer experience in a more constructive religious light.”
Shaw studied transcripts of 97 breast cancer patients who were participating in an online support group. He analyzed words such as “pray,” “faith” and “holy” and calculated the percentage of words used that suggested a religious belief or practice. Those who used religious words more tended to have fewer negative emotions and a greater sense of well-being.
