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Metaphysics & Psychology

New study links paranormal beliefs to increased stress levels

By T.K. Randall
March 1, 2025 · Comment icon 8 comments
Fear
There is thought to be a link between paranormal beliefs and stress. Image Credit: Pixabay / ELG21
Those who believe in the paranormal may be more prone to stress, researchers have discovered.
The research, which was headed up by Neil Dagnall of Manchester Metropolitan University and Andrew Denovan of Liverpool John Moores University, involved a statistical analysis of the beliefs of more than 3,000 British citizens over the age of 18.

The researchers focused on two things: Traditional Paranormal Belief (TPB) - which concerns a belief in spirits and external supernatural forces - and New Age Philosophy (NAP) - which concerns beliefs centered on self-control and improvement such as meditation and positive energy.

The findings indicated that those who were more inclined to believe in spirits and supernatural forces had higher stress levels and were more prone to stress, while those who favored a more New Age approach did not.
"These results suggest that TPB may reflect a reduced perception of control over external factors, which can increase susceptibility to stress, whereas NAP, due to its focus on more individual issues, does not appear to contribute to these dynamics," Dagnall wrote.

"Understanding the functional differences between these beliefs is essential to addressing the psychological impact of belief in the paranormal."

That said, the researchers concluded that paranormal belief is not causally linked to distress.

"Rather, the relationship is more nuanced, and in some contexts reduced control may associate positively with TPB, with TPB consequently serving an adaptive function such as facilitating coping," they wrote.

Source: News Medical | Comments (8)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by papageorge1 18 days ago
I am a believer in both TPB and NAP and have no stress. I often hear from people that associate the paranormal with being terrified. That sounds stress inducing.  I see it like physical people; mostly good with some bad out there. NAP solves everything when properly understood.
Comment icon #2 Posted by Guyver 18 days ago
I have stress and I have no idea what to believe.  But, maybe I don’t have as much stress as other people?  I’m retired, and I don’t have to work for a living….you’d think that would make life stress free but it doesn’t.      
Comment icon #3 Posted by Guyver 18 days ago
Comment icon #4 Posted by Antigonos 18 days ago
I don’t think so.
Comment icon #5 Posted by XenoFish 17 days ago
PG1's stress level must be astronomical.
Comment icon #6 Posted by fred_mc 17 days ago
Strange. I would think belief in an afterlife/spirit world would make you more relaxed.
Comment icon #7 Posted by papageorge1 17 days ago
Look up a few posts for PG1's own addressing of his situation.
Comment icon #8 Posted by MissJatti 16 days ago
I heard that too. People who are stressed and or depressed, are more likely to experience the "paranormal"


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