Though previous researches have found links between religious social support and its positive impact on a patient’s rehabilitation, this particular research firmly indicates a connection between personal religious belief and positive health outcomes

Mere “positive thinking” is not enough. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) victims who believe they are close to a “higher power” report better emotional and physical rehabilitation success, according to a Wayne State University research.

Many TBI victims are known to use religion and spirituality to cope but it remained to be scientifically investigated what elements of religion and spirituality actually affected rehabilitation outcome.

Eighty-eight adult participants with 1- to 20-year-old brain injuries and their “significant others” (SOs) participated in the study carried out by researchers Dr. Brigid Waldron-Perrine and Dr. Lisa J. Rapport of Wayne State University. While the survivors were asked to “subjectively” report their religious and spiritual beliefs and their sense of current physical and mental well-being, their SOs were to report “objectively” the rehabilitation outcomes. A neuropsychological survey of the cognitive abilities of the participants was also carried out.

It was found that a sense of meaning and purpose in life (existential well-being) was not a “unique predictor” for any outcome. However, “a sense of connection to a higher power” (religious well-being) was, in fact, a unique predictor for life satisfaction, distress and functional ability. In other words, it does not help to have a positive outlook alone. Personal faith in God is apparently the key.

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