Everyone loves to spread some Christmas cheer and get into the Christmas spirit.
A new study has shown that this can be a good thing for your mental well-being and mental health.
Research shows that carol singing makes people happier.
Over 1,000 people attended Christmas services at Liverpool Cathedral. They were interviewed before and after the service, using the well-known psychometric scale, The Oxford Happiness Inventory.
People scored much higher on the second test overall than they did the first. It suggests that the attendance to the service was a positive experience for participants and has a significant impact on mental health.
Research suggests that Christmas carol services can make you feel happier.
Sue Jones, Very Reverend Dean of Liverpool said that these discoveries were very encouraging. We say that the cathedral is a place of encounter — a place to encounter the God who knows and loves us and a place in which people can feel affirmed and loved.
“And now, we know that it works. Not just for the churchgoers but also for all of Liverpool.
Elle added that the cathedral was adding to Liverpool’s feeling of well-being. That is a great thing, and I thank God.
Researchers from the University of Warwick conducted a study on 383 people prior to and following the Holly Bough Service. This was held at Liverpool Cathedral in 2019 and the researchers then used the same wellness measure for 802 others who were attending the Christmas carol service that year.
The test asked participants to reply to 29 identical statements, before and after they had received the service.
- “I am not happy with my current situation.”
- “I look for beauty in some things.”
- “I don’t have any sense of purpose or meaning in my life.”
Researchers found that Christmas Carol Services had positive effects on the people who attended, according to their findings.
Research into cathedral attendance has shown that people enjoy the peace and tranquility, as well as connecting with their spiritual and emotional selves.
Research: Over 1,000 people attended Christmas services at Liverpool Cathedral. (pictured) A psychometric scale was used to survey the participants before and afterwards.
The study examined three types of environments, including a cathedral, castle, or shopping mall. Some people felt that visiting the cathedral affected their self-esteem.
This paper is part a larger study into the positive effect of Anglican Cathedrals on local communities as well as the relationship between religion, happiness and religion.
Leslie Francis is a professor of psychology and religions at Warwick University and Canon Theologian at Liverpool Cathedral. He said that Liverpool Cathedral was committed to using scientific evidence to assess its ministry and mission, as well as to determining its future priorities.
He stated, “It is crucial to verify the research in peer reviewed journals before inviting church to consider it serious and I’m happy to announce that the findings can be taken seriously.
“But, scientists need to continue to research and improve on their findings. We look forward to studying Christmas in other cathedrals as well as the other highlights events and services that take place at different times of the year in Liverpool Cathedral.”
The journal Theological Studies published the study.