The dynamics of prayer in daily life and implications for well-being.
The dynamics of prayer in daily life and implications for well-being.
StatusVoR
Alternative title
Authors
Newman, David B.
Nezlek, John
Thrash, Todd M.
Monograph
Monograph (alternative title)
Date
2023
Publisher
Journal title
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Issue
6
Volume
124
Pages
Pages
1299–1313
ISSN
1939-1315
0022-3514
0022-3514
ISSN of series
Access date
2023
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
Prayer is an important aspect of many people’s daily lives, yet little is known about the relationships between prayer and daily experiences and well-being in ecologically valid settings. In three studies, participants (N = 350) completed questionnaires once a day for 2 weeks (4,437 daily reports) regarding the events they experienced each day, their emotions, well-being, and the prominence of the four types of prayer constituting the ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication) taxonomy. Thanksgiving and adoration were more prominent in prayers on days when positive events were reported and well-being was high (relative to individuals’ own average reports of positive events and well-being). In contrast, supplication was more prominent on days when negative events were reported and well-being was low. Relationships between daily events, states of well-being, and prayers of confession were mixed. Lagged analyses indicated that present-day supplication, thanksgiving, and adoration negatively predicted well-being the following day. These lagged effects were weaker among people who prayed more frequently. Finally, each prayer type was predicted by distinct, nonreligious emotional states—supplication by envy, thanksgiving by gratitude, confession by guilt, and adoration by awe. By moving beyond cross-sectional and experimental paradigms, we have provided insights about the dynamic nature of prayer through repeated measurement in naturalistic contexts. The content of individuals’ prayers reflects their daily experiences and has consequences for their well-being.
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
prayer
well-being
daily diary
emotions
ecological validity
well-being
daily diary
emotions
ecological validity
Keywords other
Exhibition title
Place of exhibition (institution)
Exhibition curator
Type
License type
Funder
Time range from
Time range to
Contact person name
Related publication
Related publication
Grant/project name
Collections
Views
16Acquisition Date31.08.2025
Downloads
1Acquisition Date31.08.2025
Altmetrics©
Dimensions
Google Scholar
