Studies showing the profoundly positive impact of religion on people’s lives may have underestimated its benefits by not distinguishing those who are more committed from those who are less so.

New research from the Institute of Family Studies shows the full benefits of religion are experienced by those who actively engage in home-centered religious practices, in addition to regularly attending religious services.

For example, individuals with a home prayer life in addition to church attendance are significantly more likely to report high levels of life meaning and happiness in their lives. Specifically, “Home Worshippers” are nearly twice as likely as their less-religious peers, and more than four times more likely than ‘Seculars’ to report a frequent sense of meaning and purpose in their lives.

The researchers also found an increase in reported life happiness with each dosage category of religious involvement. Home Worshipers are significantly more likely to report high levels of happiness than are Attenders, Nominals, or Seculars.

The study also found that women and men across the globe who live the Home Worshiper lifestyle are significantly more likely to report having a highly satisfying and stable marriage relationship than less religious or nonreligious individuals.