Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Religious Britons ‘significantly happier’ than atheists: study

Religious Britons ‘significantly happier’ than atheists: study

RELIGIOUS Britons are “significantly happier” than atheists and non-religious people, new research has revealed.

People for whom religion is an important part of their identity “are also more optimistic and more resilient than atheists and non-religious people,” the study commissioned by the research forum Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) showed.


There was a statistical association between religious background having less importance in one’s personal identity and a lower likelihood of reporting positive mental health outcomes, it found.

Among those who reported that their religious background was important to their personal identity, 73 per cent said that their psychological well-being was in generally good condition over the three months leading up to the survey. This dropped to 55 per cent for those who said their religious background was unimportant to their personal identity.

A little more than 2,000 people participated in the UK-wide survey, conducted by TechneUK between September 29 and October 8.

Some 70 per cent of the respondents who identified themselves as Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist said their psychological well-being was in good shape, compared to 49 per cent of atheists.

Three quarters (76 per cent) of people who attached importance to their religious background for their personal identity reported they were happy. This dropped by 18 percentage points for those who said that their religious background was unimportant.

According to England & Wales Census 2021, 46.2 per cent of the population identified themselves as Christian, a sharp drop from 71.7 per cent in 2001. Some 6.5 per cent of residents or 3.9 million people said they were Muslim, up from 4.9 per cent or 2.7 million people in 2011. The number of Hindus hit the one million mark, representing 1.7 per cent of the population as per the most recent census. England and Wales are home to 524,000 Sikhs, 273,000 Buddhists and 271,000 Jews.

The IIFL research suggested that religiosity and spirituality could have a positive impact on mental health and psychological well-being.

The evidence pointed towards the possibility of attending religious services providing "an organic sense of belonging and rootedness which are foundational to positive forms of mental health and psychological well-being," it said.

"The value of community spirit and civic-mindedness in this context should not only be underestimated – it should be further explored in terms of producing practical and sustainable solutions which are designed to combat loneliness and social isolation in modern Britain".

Senior research associate Rakib Ehsan who authored the report, said, “Britain is a curious mix of being a society that has become more secular but also more religiously diverse. While the fast-paced secularisation of the British mainstream has been cited as a form of social progress, this appears not to be the case from the perspective of mental health.

“Compared to non-believers, religious Britons are more likely to report good psychological well-being, satisfaction with life, and optimism over their personal future. They are also more likely to say they are confident with handling the challenges that come with life.

“While it may be considered unfashionable and outdated, the sense of belonging and purpose that can be provided through religious and spiritual forms of attachment and membership should be better explored by policymakers and practitioners in the sphere of mental health.”

More For You

starmer-immigration

Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, Starmer said the government is working to restore order to the immigration system.

UK returns 24,000 illegal migrants since July, highest in eight years

THE UK government has returned over 24,000 individuals with no legal right to remain in the country since July, marking the highest rate of removals in eight years, prime minister Keir Starmer said on Monday.

Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, Starmer said the government is working to restore order to the immigration system.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Aga Khan dedicated his life to service, peace, and pluralism'

Commonwealth secretary general Baroness Patricia Scotlan speaks at an Iftar dinner held at the Ismaili Centre in London (Photo: The Ismaili National Council for the United Kingdom)

'Aga Khan dedicated his life to service, peace, and pluralism'

COMMONWEALTH chief has paid tribute to the late Prince Karim Aga Khan, describing him as a visionary leader whose lifelong dedication to service, peace, and pluralism has left a lasting impact on the world.

Speaking at an Iftar dinner held at the Ismaili Centre in London last Wednesday (26), Commonwealth secretary general Baroness Patricia Scotland reflected on her personal connection with the Aga Khan, recalling their meetings during Commonwealth Day celebrations at Westminster Abbey.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Trump-Getty

Trump has suggested the possibility of a 'great' trade deal that could help the UK mitigate the impact of tariffs he has pledged to introduce. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer, Trump talk trade deal progress in 'productive' discussion

KEIR STARMER and Donald Trump spoke on Sunday about ongoing UK-US trade negotiations, with Downing Street describing the talks as "productive."

Since leaving the European Union, the UK has been working to secure a trade agreement with the United States. Successive British governments have pursued a deal, but it has remained elusive.

Keep ReadingShow less
Myanmar-quake-rescue-Reuters

Rescuers carry the body of a victim during search and rescue operations, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, March 30. (Photo: Reuters)

Myanmar earthquake death toll rises to 1,700, UK pledges £10m in aid

RESCUE efforts continued in Myanmar as residents searched for survivors in collapsed buildings in Mandalay, two days after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country. The disaster has killed at least 1,700 people in Myanmar and 17 in neighbouring Thailand.

The quake hit near Mandalay on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. The tremors caused widespread destruction, damaging buildings, bridges, and roads in the city of more than 1.7 million people.

Keep ReadingShow less
Andrew Tate Sued by Ex-Girlfriend Brianna Stern Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Tate’s attorney, Joseph McBride, has dismissed the lawsuit

Getty

Andrew Tate faces sexual assault lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Brianna Stern

Social media personality Andrew Tate is facing a new lawsuit from his ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, who has accused him of sexual assault, battery, and gender violence. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, details allegations of abuse and an incident that allegedly took place at The Beverly Hills Hotel on 11 March 2025.

Allegations in the lawsuit

According to the legal complaint, Stern claims that Tate initially appeared as a "dream come true" but later became emotionally and physically abusive. The lawsuit describes a violent encounter at the hotel, where she alleges Tate physically assaulted and threatened her.

Keep ReadingShow less