Religion and Physical Health — Wheatley Institute Report

Abstract

Systematic review and narrative synthesis of 1,069 high-quality studies on the relationship between religious participation and 15 physical health outcomes, drawing on selections from the "Handbook of Religion and Health" (Duke/Harvard). Released June 2026.

Findings for Latter-day Saints

• Positive findings outnumbered negative ones 7:1 for physical health and 10:1 for mental health.
• Religious individuals show lower rates of smoking, substance abuse, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.
• Benefits require "high involvement" — weekly or more frequent worship attendance sustained over years.
• Religion works best as a complement to professional medical and mental health care, not a replacement.
• Protective effects attributed to health codes, social connectedness, and beliefs about bodily stewardship.

Related studies

• 2025DemographicsRetention

  BYU Latter-day Saint Religious Seismology Survey

  BYU College of Religious Education

• 2025FlourishingReligion

  Harvard / Baylor Global Flourishing Study — Flagship Paper

  Tyler J. VanderWeele, Brendan Case et al.

Cite this study

Marks, L., BYU, W. I. A., University, D. (2026). Religion and Physical Health — Wheatley Institute Report. Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University. https://www.deseret.com/lifestyle/2026/06/04/religion-improves-health-outcomes-study-byu/

Loren Marks, et al.. "Religion and Physical Health — Wheatley Institute Report." Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University, 2026. https://www.deseret.com/lifestyle/2026/06/04/religion-improves-health-outcomes-study-byu/.

@article{wheatley_religion_physical_health_2026,
  title = {Religion and Physical Health — Wheatley Institute Report},
  author = {Loren Marks and Wheatley Institute at BYU and Duke University},
  year = {2026},
  journal = {Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University},
  url = {https://www.deseret.com/lifestyle/2026/06/04/religion-improves-health-outcomes-study-byu/},
}