Christians ‘more resilient than non-believers’ says new report

Being a Christian supports emotional wellbeing and builds resilience, according to a new study.

The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) surveyed over 2,000 UK adults—including Christians, Muslims, and those with no religious belief—and found that people of faith generally experience higher life satisfaction and report lower levels of worry than non-believers.

The report, titled Faith & Happiness: How Religious Belief Shapes Britain’s Emotional Wellbeing, reveals that 78% of Christians maintain a positive outlook during difficult times, compared to 69% of non-religious individuals. Additionally, 58% of Christians expressed optimism about the future, while only 47% of those without faith shared that perspective.

Dr. Amanda Murjan, a Research Associate at IIFL and the report’s author, told Premier Christian News that the key difference lies in how believers view themselves and their circumstances. “Using a biblical expression, many of them see life in seasons—they accept that everything is passing,” she explained. “Rather than resisting life’s difficulties, they are more open to them, seeing events through the lens of divine purpose, guidance, and growth. They believe they are bigger than their challenges.”

The study focused on Christians, Muslims, and those without faith—the UK’s largest religious demographics. Dr. Murjan noted that Christians and Muslims shared more similarities in emotional wellbeing than either group did with non-believers.

When asked if they would change anything about their past, 41% of Christians said they wouldn’t change a thing, compared to just 26% of non-religious respondents—suggesting a higher level of contentment and reduced regret among Christians.