494: Science-backed spiritual tools for longevity | Psychologist David DeSteno, Ph.D.

Health Benefits

David DeSteno, a psychologist, highlights the profound health benefits of spiritual practices, emphasizing their role in reducing stress, loneliness, and depression among young adults. He notes that engaging in these practices can cut mortality rates by 30%, improve cardiovascular health, and significantly reduce deaths of despair 1. Jason Wachob adds that spirituality should be prioritized alongside nutrition and exercise, given its substantial mental health benefits 2. DeSteno explains that spirituality involves connecting with something greater than oneself, which can be achieved through various practices like meditation and prayer 3.

If I said to you, hey, here's a pill you can take if you follow people for 15-20 years. It cuts death by any cause by 30%. It increases your cardiovascular health threefold.

--- David DeSteno

This connection fosters a sense of belonging and reduces anxiety and depression.

   

Spiritual Measurements

Assessing spiritual health poses unique challenges, as traditional metrics like those for cardiovascular health don't apply. David DeSteno acknowledges the lack of precise measures but emphasizes the importance of understanding spiritual engagement's impact on well-being 4. He suggests that spiritual practices, such as gratitude and mindfulness, can be beneficial even without a theological component 5. Jason Wachob

There are no metrics that we know of that do this at least with any sense of precision that you could do with cardiovascular health or health in general.

--- David DeSteno

DeSteno's ongoing research aims to quantify the benefits of practices like microdosing gratitude, exploring their effects on emotional states and social connections.

   

Spiritual Reduction

Spiritual practices significantly reduce suffering by fostering compassion and connection. David DeSteno shares findings that meditation not only enhances memory but also increases willingness to help others and reduces aggression 6. He explains that these practices provide both physiological and psychological benefits, such as lowering stress and blood pressure while strengthening social bonds 7. Jason Wachob emphasizes the importance of believing in something greater, as it offers comfort during life's challenges and enhances overall well-being 8.

It was intended to reduce suffering in the world, yours and somebody else's.

--- David DeSteno

This belief system, whether rooted in religion or personal spirituality, is crucial for navigating adversity and fostering resilience.