People who are religious, healthier and less likely to go to sick leave, according to a new study. They are also less stressed and less anxious at work.
Experts believe that this may be due to the fact that spirituality acts as a kind of "buffer zone". Psychologists at the Stockport Health and Safety Laboratory have found that the more religious people are, the less likely they are to suffer from anxiety, depression, or mental exhaustion.
Dr. Roxanne Gervais also found that deeply religious employees feel that their lives have more meaning than those who do not stand up to their faith or have none at all. Dr. Gervais interviewed workers to find out how happy they are in their home and work life. She found that those who attend religious services feel more confident that they believe in their connection with a higher being.
Dr. Gervais told The Telegraph: “As the pace of work accelerates, so does life, people are increasingly questioning the meaning of life, and the younger generation, in particular, wants something more than a simple pay raise at the end of the month. My research shows that religiosity in the workplace can act as an additional resource that makes people more resilient and helps to cope with many challenges in working life."
Such personal convictions can be very useful not only for employees, but also for employers who provide jobs to people with a "buffer zone", Gervais said. The psychologist is convinced that employers should encourage and support the beliefs of their employees.
Dr. Gervais's findings will be presented at the annual conference of the British Psychological Society of Occupational Psychology in Brighton.
The study was conducted after it became known that there is a region of "thick" brain tissue in the brains of people who believe in God. The findings from a study at Columbia University also suggested that this thickening of the cerebral cortex could help prevent depression.
The authors of the study believe that the results of their study provide more confidence that believing in God changes the structure of the brain, thereby reducing the risk of depression.
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