Religious belief, prayer and sacramental confession can serve as a powerful support for young people’s mental wellbeing, according to new research from Mary Immaculate College.

Dr Lydia Mannion, a Lecturer in Inclusive and Special Education, says that religion “can provide a sense of purpose, a framework for understanding life’s challenges, a source of comfort in times of distress, and a community of belonging”.

Her research involved questionnaires completed by over one hundred students in Transition Year, Fifth Year and Leaving Certificate classes and follow-up in-depth interviews with seven students.

The findings revealed that students who believed in God and held strong religious beliefs were more likely to report higher levels of wellbeing. Similarly, those who engaged in positive religious coping tended to report a stronger sense of purpose in life.

In contrast, students who relied more on negative religious coping methods were more likely to experience lower levels of wellbeing

Prayer, such as saying the rosary, emerged as one of the most significant ways that faith supports mental wellbeing. Many students described it as a calming and grounding practice during times of stress and anxiety.

Religious practices such as Confession were also highlighted as beneficial in terms of processing guilt and personal struggles.