Frequent churchgoers have had better mental health during pandemic - poll

 (Photo: Unsplash/Adi Goldstein)

A new study has found that mental health remained stable for people who attended church frequently this year. 

While the mental health impact of the pandemic has been a source of concern for many people, the Gallup Poll found that Americans who went to church frequently were more likely to say their mental health this year was "excellent". 

Overall, around a third of Americans (34%) described their mental health as "excellent", down from 43% last year. 

Among those who attended church weekly though, this figure rose to 46%, even increasing on last year's figures, when 42% said the same. 

Of those who attended church nearly weekly or monthly, just over a third (35%) said their mental health was excellent.

Women were significantly less likely than men to say their mental health was excellent (27% vs 41%), as were Democrats in comparison to Republicans (29% vs 41%).

Gallup has been surveying Americans about their mental health in November every year since 2001.  

Typically, the proportion rating their mental health as excellent or good has ranged from 81% to 89% each year, but this year, that fell to a new low of 76%.

Gallup said the findings were "undoubtedly influenced by the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to profoundly disrupt people's lives, but may also reflect views of the election and the state of race relations, both of which were on Americans' minds this year." 

News
Sudan authorities use bureaucracy to stop church rebuilding and worship
Sudan authorities use bureaucracy to stop church rebuilding and worship

Authorities in Sudan are obstructing efforts by a church to rebuild and even to use their place of worship

Ramadan ‘offers a unique opportunity’ to share the Gospel, says missiologist
Ramadan ‘offers a unique opportunity’ to share the Gospel, says missiologist

Dr Emil Saleem Shehadeh has some sage advice for how Christians can engage with their Muslim neighbours and colleagues during Ramadan.

David Tudor hit with another lifetime ministry ban
David Tudor hit with another lifetime ministry ban

Having already been banned, the latest sanction merely reinforces an earlier decision.

Armenia’s Christian civilization is under existential threat - the UK must not stand idly by
Armenia’s Christian civilization is under existential threat - the UK must not stand idly by

The constellation of powers that produced the eradication of the Armenian Christian presence in Nagorno Karabakh now have their sights on the Republic of Armenia itself.