People who believe in certain supernatural forces may be causing themselves more stress. (FOTOKITA/Shutterstock)
In a nutshell
- Belief in traditional supernatural forces, like the devil, hell, and witchcraft, is linked to higher stress levels and weaker coping skills, according to a large-scale study of over 3,000 UK adults.
- Only these traditional beliefs showed negative mental health impacts, beliefs in psychic abilities or precognition (New Age beliefs) had no significant connection to stress or coping.
- Researchers suggest traditional paranormal beliefs may reflect a fear of external, uncontrollable forces, potentially leading to avoidant coping styles that worsen stress rather than relieve it.
MANCHESTER, England — Believing in supernatural forces might be messing with your mental health. A new study suggests that folks who believe in traditional spooky stuff like the devil and witchcraft tend to feel more stressed out and less able to cope with life’s curveballs. Surprisingly, though, if you’re into crystals, psychic powers, or predicting the future, your stress levels probably aren’t affected at all.
The study, published in PLOS ONE, revealed that traditional supernatural beliefs are linked to a feeling that you’re not in control of your own life. They found that people who believe in concepts like hell, witchcraft, and devilish forces tend to see the world as controlled by powers beyond their reach.
Researchers distinguish between two types of paranormal belief. Traditional Paranormal Beliefs (TPB) include concepts like the devil, hell, and witchcraft—essentially supernatural forces operating at a societal level. The second category, New Age Philosophy (NAP), encompasses beliefs in paranormal abilities like mind reading, contacting spirits, and predicting future events—powers that operate on an individual level.
There’s a difference between believing in ghosts or witches versus believing you might be psychic or can sense energies. The first group sees supernatural forces as acting on them, while the second group sees supernatural powers as potentially working through them. And according to this study, that distinction makes all the difference for your mental health.
The researchers surveyed over 3,000 people, with an almost even split between men and women averaging about 50 years old. They had everyone fill out questionnaires about their paranormal beliefs and how stressed they felt, like whether they saw life as unpredictable, overwhelming, or out of their control.
After crunching the numbers, believing in traditional paranormal concepts significantly predicted higher distress and worse coping skills. But believing in new age concepts didn’t seem to affect stress levels at all.
The researchers think this makes sense with the “psychodynamic hypothesis.” This is basically the idea that supernatural beliefs try to give us a sense of control over stuff we can’t really control. But ironically, these beliefs might encourage avoiding problems instead of facing them head-on, which isn’t great for your mental health in the long run.
Traditional paranormal beliefs reflect fear about forces beyond your control. If you think the world works this way, it’s probably harder to feel calm and collected when facing problems.
It’s kind of like blaming everything on fate, destiny, or supernatural powers; while it might feel comforting to think “it’s all part of a bigger plan,” that approach can actually make you more passive when dealing with challenges. Instead of taking action, you might just accept your fate.
This doesn’t mean all supernatural beliefs are bad news. The researchers are careful to point out that these beliefs serve important cultural and psychological purposes. But if your beliefs leave you feeling like a puppet on supernatural strings, your stress levels might be taking a hit.
The findings could actually help therapists working with stressed-out clients who hold strong traditional supernatural beliefs. Maybe they could benefit from approaches that boost their sense of personal control and active problem-solving skills.
Unlike previous studies that lumped all paranormal beliefs together, this research gives us a more sophisticated view of how different supernatural thinking styles relate to mental wellbeing.
So, instead of worrying about bad luck, curses, or devilish influences, remember: those beliefs themselves might be adding to your stress. Sometimes the scariest thing about supernatural forces is how much power we give them over our peace of mind.
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers surveyed 3,084 people (about 46% male, 53% female, with a handful identifying as non-binary or not disclosing gender) ranging from 18 to 91 years old, with an average age of 50. All participants were from the UK. They used two main questionnaires: the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale to measure supernatural beliefs, and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale to assess how stressed people felt. They broke paranormal beliefs into two main categories: Traditional Paranormal Beliefs (devil, hell, witchcraft) and New Age Philosophy (ESP, contacting spirits, predicting the future). They then used fancy statistical methods to see how these belief types related to stress levels.
Results
The analysis showed that Traditional Paranormal Beliefs significantly predicted higher distress levels and worse coping abilities. New Age Philosophy beliefs, however, didn’t show any significant relationship with stress measures. The traditional beliefs explained about 10% of the variation in distress and 4% of the variation in coping ability. This suggests that believing external supernatural forces control existence is linked to worse stress outcomes, while believing in individual-level paranormal abilities doesn’t seem to affect stress one way or another.
Limitations
This study only looked at one point in time, so we can’t tell whether these beliefs cause stress or whether stressed people gravitate toward these beliefs. The researchers only measured stress over a one-month period, while harmful stress usually happens over longer timeframes. Most participants weren’t super strong believers in the paranormal, so results might be different for people with stronger convictions. The study doesn’t account for how strong religious faith might change these relationships. Also, the questionnaire used reflects mostly Western, Christian-influenced views of the supernatural.
Funding and Disclosures
The study was supported by the BIAL Foundation (Grant no. 123/20). The researchers declared no competing interests.
Publication Information
The study, “Re-evaluation of the relationship between paranormal belief and perceived stress using statistical modelling,” was written by Kenneth G. Drinkwater, Andrew Denovan, and Neil Dagnall and published in PLOS ONE on November 13, 2024.
People who don’t will be more stressed when they die.
The True Catholic Church in NM, USA is the only Catholic voice that can destroy Satan and his workers. Here is the true Catholic holy Exorcism: https://altcensored.com/watch?v=pgwad6cIOUE https://www.johnthebaptist.us/jbw_english/documents/books/prayer/bpr7_catholic_exorcism_prayer.pdf
This is why religious people are always so stressed out about their religion. They discriminate because of religious beliefs more than for any other reason, worldwide, all nationalities, all religions. Maybe this is also why religion is the #1 cause of murder in this world. Only people that believe in a god believe in a devil.
Believing that Satan does not exist is job #1 for him. If he can do that, there is no need for GOD The FATHER, The SON, and The HOLY GHOST.
Satan’s downfall was believing he was god. That is exactly what NAP as described in this article does to you. Convinces you that you, and you alone are god.
My congratulations to the authors of this article and the study for doing satan’s bidding for him. You will be judged accordingly.
I imagine that belief in Satan without biblical knowledge of Jesus’ finished work on the cross and the God-granted authority of true believers could be very stressful. However, for those of us who know Jesus and have seen His power–even OVER the enemy–knowing that satan exists is not a major cause of stress if we stay close to the LORD. We see the devil’s defeat nearly daily.
Amen
Those who fear Satan are the ones who have stress, when You have Jesus and His Salvation, and Holy Spirit, you no longer have Fear.
And where was belief in God factored into this half-baked study?
If you don’t believe in Satan, you surely will be joining him.
I think the exorcists might laugh at this study’s results and remind people that they should not be ignorant of the unseen malevolent forces that would promise them their misguided wishes.
Prayerful meditation and virtuous living goes a long way to protect folks and provide them hope and comfort.
As we have witnessed, science is too often conjecture enforced with orthodoxy.
This article is total and I mean total BS.
Satan is real but you can have peace about that through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus defeated Satan when He died on the cross for our sins, as well as death, hell and the grave. Satan is a defeated foe, and the power of Jesus is greater. Jesus died for your sins so that God can forgive you. When you believe that receiving Him as your Lord and turning from sin you will receive eternal life and be born again into new life. As believers, we have authority over Satan and his entire kingdom. So while the power of the devil is real, the power of God overcomes all the power of Satan. God will give us grace to overcome every attack of Satan and keep us in perfect peace as our minds are stayed on Him because we trust Him.
GREAT NEWS! Belief and faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Christ Jesus eleviates all that stress.
Job chapter one.
Only causes stress if you don’t know Christ, and are living in a way that displeases God.
Belief in God doesnt appear to be included in the study. Seems odd to me. If people believe in Satan yet lack faith in God and his Word in the person of Christ Jesus, then their sin in life is causing stress because of their fear of dying. Ive accepted death and because of my faith in Gods only begotten son, Satan has no hold on me and I have no stress at the thought of dying. I used to be stressed. I couldnt sleep at night. Then I met Christ Jesus and asked him to forgive me for all the wrong I have done. I sleep like the dead now, except when I wake up having to use the bathroom… Seek Jesus get saved and be born again. Seek the real Jesus that the bible talks about, not the Jesus the false preachers preach.
Exactly! And Satan is not an uncontrollable force.
You are so right! I was born and raised a Roman Catholic and spent many years in Catholic school. I was so terrified of death that I couldn’t sleep at night! Then one day I was finally told by a Christian what the Bible taught about Salvation–that it was a free gift received by faith and not by works and that Jesus had PAID IT IN FULL for me–no if’s, ands, or buts. You cannot imagine my joy! I immediately accepted the wonderful free gift of Salvation and became a Born Again Christian and left the Roman Catholic Church which had taught me a bunch of lies that were in direct contradiction to the Bible. I now have no fear of death at all. I have peace and joy!
HOW TO BE SURE
There’s probably more uncertainty about the most important matter in the world than about any other. Let me illustrate:
   If you were to ask 100 people at random about the economy, politics, or pollution, you would get a fairly definite opinion from most.
   But ask the same 100 people, Are you going to Heaven when you die? The vast majority would answer with varying degrees of doubt — I don’t know…I’m working on it…I have no idea ….I’m not sure.
   Many of these same people would tell you that they believe in Jesus Christ and that they believe in Heaven. Yet they don’t know whether or not they are going to Heaven.
What would your answer be?
   Most of us know definitely whether or not we are working and whether or not we are married. Yet we do not know whether or not we have eternal life.
   Most travelers know where their destination is. Yet ask them where their final destination will be where they will be living forever and very few know!
   This uncertainty comes from a misunderstanding of what is involved in attaining eternal life and going to Heaven. If you were to ask the average person what one must do to have eternal life, his answer would probably include one or more of the following:
Live a good life
Obey the Ten Commandments
Join a church and attend regularly
Love your fellow man
Be baptized and/or confirmed
Follow the teachings and example of Christ.
   All of these represent something that people do or try to do. They reflect the popular idea that eternal life in Heaven is a reward to be earned.
   But the Bible states clearly that we cannot win or earn our way to Heaven. Eternal life is not a reward for what we have done or tried to do; it is a free gift. The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). It is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8,9).
   So long as we think that we must earn our way into the presence of God, we can never be certain that we have done enough to deserve Heaven. Most of us realize that we are not good enough to measure up to God’s perfect standards. And for us to say I know I’m going to Heaven  sounds like the ultimate in pride and boasting, if Heaven is reached through good works.
The only sure answer!
   The Bible, however, teaches that we cannot be good enough, that we cannot work our way to Heaven and that we do not need to! We are to realize, instead, that Jesus Christ has opened the way to Heaven for us. No matter how bad we may be, any of us can qualify.
   The Bible says, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in [Gods] sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known….This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Romans 3:20-22).
   You see, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins yours and mine by His death on the cross. Having completely paid our sin penalty, He rose from the dead and now offers eternal life to you and to me as a gift. By simply recognizing our need for a divine Savior, and by accepting Christs payment for our sins and our salvation, the matter of our eternal destiny is immediately resolved.
   This is the way, the only way, to know for sure that you have eternal life.
Do you have this assurance?
   If not, you can gain this assurance right here and now. How? The Bible says, speaking of Christ : To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
   Have you received Him?
   How, you still ask?
   Well, let me illustrate by comparing your life to your home. In the last book of the Bible, Jesus said, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).
   It’s up to you to open the door of your life to Christ. Are you willing to invite Jesus to come in and change your life? Are you willing to place all of your trust and confidence in Him rather than in your own works? If so, let me suggest you complete the transaction by praying something like this:
Dear God, I know I am a sinner and unable to save myself. But I do believe You love me, and that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sins. Right here and now, I ask You to forgive my every sin and give me the gift of eternal life. Thank You, dear God, for hearing and answering my prayer, and for giving me eternal life as You promised You would. Amen.
     In closing, let me remind you that the Bible says, I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).
Written by Arthur S. DeMoss (tract from The American Tract Society)
Why put it off? You can accept the wonderful free gift of Salvation right now wherever you are. Just ask God for it.
Stress is caused by sin, persecution of Christians in the world, being exposed to wickedness and abominations and a lack of Faith.
The supernatural is real and they have power. The solution to de-escalating the stress of knowing Satan and demons exist, and that is understanding that God created Satan and demons and God has already defeated them. Satan has no power over those protected by Jesus and therefore we have nothing to fear regarding Satan. All those who take refugee in Jesus and His death and resurrection over sin and Satan can live at peace.
It’s understandable that believing that there are repercussions for your actions beyond your current meat avatar would lead to higher levels of stress. Believing in the supernatural and believing in predestination are different things though. I’m in the free will camp but maybe I’m just predestined or quantumly locked to feel that way. This reality isn’t something that’s happening TO you, it’s something that’s happening FOR you. You’re not a puppet or an actor in a play that’s happening on a universal timeframe. You’re a pilot in the biological exploration suit with nigh unlimited amount of free play in the biggest MMORPG ever conceived (albeit with a very limited EMF sensor array to experience it) .
Cannot stop laughing….
Having 60 million illegal aliens keeping you from going out at night since 2009-because they’ll steal YOUR parking place-can cause great stress as well.
PARKING IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
I say it all the time, religion is a mental illness.
So believing something you see or hear or understand is mental illness? Then believing lies and liars like yourself is the worst form of mental illness. I wonder how much stress millions of atheists felt as they were being blotted out by the commies. Ignorance is bliss until your last few breaths.
Like it or not, atheism is a religion. Meets every hallmark. Many are far more dogmatic in the proselytizing than evangelicals. Everyone has a religion. That said, you are either for Christ or against (every other faith or humanist faith).
And, I bet all the time, most people ignore or laugh at you. LOL!!!!
No mention of God or Heaven???