Religious Belief Restores Purpose During Social Isolation

Author: University of Michigan
Published: 13 Jun 2021 - Updated: 20 Sep 2026
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed | Research, Study, Analysis

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This peer-reviewed research paper, authored by University of Michigan scholars, examines how religious beliefs can provide purpose and social comfort to individuals who feel socially disconnected, such as those with disabilities or seniors who may lack strong social networks. The study, which analyzed responses from nearly 20,000 participants, found that while most people derive a sense of purpose from human relationships, those who are isolated often turn to God as a substitute for social support, helping to restore some sense of meaning in life. However, this compensatory effect does not fully match the sense of purpose experienced by those with quality human connections, and the study emphasizes that religion does not make socially disconnected people more likely to become religious if they were not already.

The findings are particularly useful for people who, due to physical, social, or situational barriers, cannot easily improve their social contacts; for example, individuals with disabilities or seniors who may be homebound can find solace and a sense of belonging through their faith. The authority of this information is reinforced by its publication in a peer-reviewed journal and its basis in large-scale, rigorous analysis, making it both reliable and relevant for those seeking to understand the psychological role of religion in coping with social isolation.*

At a Glance

• 1 - The study appeared in the peer-reviewed Journal of Personality.
• 2 - Lead author Todd Chan is a doctoral student in the University of Michigan Department of Psychology.
• 3 - Viewing God as a friend adds little extra purpose for people who already have supportive social ties.
• 4 - Earlier research found socially disconnected people are more likely to see human-like qualities in pets, imaginary beings, and God.

Topic Definition

Compensatory Religious Coping

Compensatory religious coping describes what happens when a person who lacks dependable human relationships draws on faith to fill part of the gap those relationships would normally cover. Rather than treating belief as a purely doctrinal matter, researchers look at it as a functioning relationship: a person may experience God as someone who knows them, values them, listens to them, and holds expectations for how they spend their days. That perceived bond can supply several of the psychological goods that friends and family usually provide, chief among them a sense that life is going somewhere and that one's efforts matter. The pattern is selective rather than universal. It tends to show up among people who already hold religious beliefs and who currently feel lonely, rejected, or cut off by circumstances such as disability, bereavement, or being homebound, and it adds little for those whose social lives are already strong. It also works as a partial substitute, not an equivalent one, since the purpose recovered this way generally falls short of what well-connected people report.

Overview

Study results suggest that although people primarily derive purpose from social relationships, socially disconnected individuals may leverage their religious beliefs for purpose and social comfort until they can reconnect. However, the findings do not suggest that people who are socially disconnected are more likely to become religious if they were not already.

Belonging Related to Sense of Purpose

When people feel like they do not belong or are unsupported by their relationships, they consistently have a lower sense of purpose and direction in life, says lead author Todd Chan, a doctoral student in the U-M Department of Psychology.

Chan and colleagues say that having a belief system that adequately "substitutes" for some of the functions of human relationships, like having a God that values and supports them, may allow socially disconnected people to restore some of this purpose.

"For the socially disconnected, God may serve as a substitutive relationship that compensates for some of the purposes that human relationships would normally provide," Chan said.

In three separate studies, the U-M researchers analyzed the responses from 19,775 people who described their purpose in life, loneliness levels, friendship quality, and religious beliefs.

These beliefs generally provide social comfort. The research shows that seeing God as your friend when you are already socially connected provides minimal additional benefit for purpose in life.

"In other words, people mostly benefit from leveraging religion and turning to God as a friend only when they lack supportive social connections," Chan said.

This research also informs how people can cope with disconnection when others are unavailable or unappealing. People would ideally "get out there" and improve their social contacts to feel less disconnected. However, this is not always feasible, given that the researchers say that an inherent part of social disconnection is that people have poor relationships or are rejected.

The new U-M study continues previous research showing that people who are socially disconnected are more likely to see human-like qualities in things like pets, imaginary beings, and God.

"Our research suggests, given two people who feel equally disconnected, the individual who feels more connected to God will have a better sense of purpose in life," said co-author Nicholas Michalak, a psychology graduate student.

Although the results suggest that religion and God compensate for lost purpose in the socially disconnected, it did not restore purpose to a level comparable to that of people who are socially connected.

"These results certainly do not suggest that people can or should rely on God over people for a purpose," said co-author Oscar Ybarra, professor of psychology and faculty associate at the U-M Institute for Social Research. "Quality human connections remain a primary and enduring source of purpose in life."

In addition, the findings do not suggest that people who are socially disconnected are more likely to become religious if they were not already.

Consistent with our hypotheses, religious beliefs had minimal influence on purpose in life for socially connected individuals, who already held higher levels of purpose than socially disconnected individuals. However, for socially disconnected individuals, being highly religious predicted higher levels of purpose in life. This study appeared in the Journal of Personality.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

Does attending religious services matter more than private belief for a sense of purpose?

Both contribute, but in different ways. Private belief supports the felt relationship with God that this research examined, while attendance adds ordinary human contact through congregation members, volunteers, and clergy. For someone who cannot attend in person, many congregations offer streamed services, phone prayer chains, and visitation programs that supply part of that social element.

Can people who are not religious find purpose in a similar way?

Yes. Research on purpose in life points to several non-religious sources, including caring for a pet or family member, volunteering, creative and craft work, learning projects, activism, and long-term personal goals. What matters is having commitments that feel meaningful and that structure daily life.

How do researchers actually measure purpose in life?

Purpose is usually assessed with validated self-report scales, such as the purpose subscale of the Ryff Psychological Well-Being measures. Participants rate agreement with statements about having goals, direction, and a sense that their activities matter, and scores are then compared across groups.

Is social isolation the same thing as loneliness?

No. Social isolation is objective and refers to how few contacts a person actually has. Loneliness is subjective and refers to the distressing gap between the relationships someone wants and the ones they have. A person can be isolated without feeling lonely, or feel deeply lonely while surrounded by people.

Does this study prove that religion causes a greater sense of purpose?

It does not. The analyses are correlational and based on survey responses, so they show a consistent association rather than cause and effect. It remains possible that people with a stronger sense of purpose engage more with faith, or that a third factor influences both.

Are people with disabilities at greater risk of social isolation?

Many are. Inaccessible transportation, lower employment rates, venues without step-free access, communication barriers, fatigue, and the cost of support can all reduce opportunities for contact. Risk varies widely by condition, income, geography, and the presence of family or paid support.

What practical steps can a homebound person take to feel less disconnected?

Options include scheduled phone or video calls with a set person each week, online interest groups and forums, faith community visitation or telephone ministry, library and council outreach services, befriending programs, and telehealth counseling. Setting a fixed time for contact tends to work better than leaving it open ended.

How can caregivers support someone spiritual needs without imposing their own views?

Ask what the person believes and what practices matter to them, then help remove barriers to those practices, such as arranging transport, large print or audio scripture, or a visit from their own chaplain or clergy. Follow their lead, avoid offering faith as a fix for medical or emotional problems, and respect a decision to decline.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: This research highlights the nuanced role of religion in providing psychological support for those who are socially disconnected. While it does not advocate for replacing human relationships with spiritual ones, it acknowledges the value of religious belief in offering a sense of purpose during times of isolation. This insight is valuable for caregivers, mental health professionals, and community leaders working with populations vulnerable to social isolation, such as individuals with disabilities or the elderly.*

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Michigan and published on 13 Jun 2021, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.