Bradshaw, MattGeorge, KrupaBaylor University.2019-05-242019-05-242019-05-062019-05-24https://hdl.handle.net/2104/10621Throughout history, healing has been associated with spirituality. Even today, many believe in the power of prayer for wellness and healing and find it especially relevant to areas of mental health. This thesis gives a historical glimpse into the topic, reviews the state of current research, analyzes data from a national survey conducted among young adults in the US, and conducts a novel controlled experiment of prayer and mental health among young adults in the Waco area. The findings show a significant positive correlation between different types of prayer, scripture readings, and various measures of mental health. The implications of these findings are discussed, and suggestions for future research are outlined.en-USBaylor University projects are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.SociologyReligionMedical HumanitiesThesisWorldwide access