The power of prayer can do so much for your mental and physical health, even breast cancer patients praying in online support groups can benefit from it, according to a new study.
Researchers conducted analyses on transcripts gathered from some 100 patients in Wisconsin and Michigan participating in an online group integrated with the computer-based Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS), before group access, and four months later.
Even after taking religious beliefs into account before the study, cancer patients whose messages to each other included words that suggest faith in a higher power (holy, God, worship, pray) experienced reduced levels of negative emotions and greater well-being.
Granted, some folks remain very skeptical the power of prayer can do much of anything, but the simple fact that the study was funded by the National Cancer Institute should open some eyes and hearts to what prayer can really do for them.
IBN Live January 6, 2007Psycho-Oncology November 27, 2007Science Blog January 4, 2007