Effect of spiritual practices on higher brain functions, psychological health, and stress response

Background: Spiritual beliefs include the relationship to a superior being and recognition of a sense that there is something greater than myself. Psychological health is not just absence of mental disorder but a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his/her own abilities, can cope up with normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his/her community. Aims and Objectives: The present study was designed to analyze the impact of spiritual practices on memory, cognitive functions, psychological health, adjustment level, and stress response. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in two phases on 150 subjects. In the first phase of study, subjects were divided into low, average and high spirituality groups on the basis of spirituality scores. Each group was required to perform memory test, stroop test along-with assessment of psychological health, and adjustment level. Their basal level of stress parameters was recorded. A stressor was introduced and stress parameters were again assessed. Subjects were asked to perform spiritual practices for 1 month duration and the parameters were again assessed. ANOVA and post hoc tests were used for inter group comparison. Student’s t-test was used to analyze data between baseline values and post spirituality values for various parameters. Results: On comparison of parameters in low, average and high spirituality groups, significant and non-significant results were obtained at baseline level and after 1 month practice of spirituality. Conclusion: Spiritual practices have positive effect on parameters studied.