Poster Preview
https://ibb.co/rK31WghP
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Mentor Information
Raja Benchekroun
Description
The relationship between Islamic prayer (Salah) and stress regulation has been extensively examined in Muslim populations because of its relevance to mental health. However, findings are dispersed across studies using varied methodologies. This structured literature review synthesizes existing research on Salah and stress reduction, focusing on outcomes such as changes in stress related biomarkers and self reported well being among Muslim populations. A structured literature search was conducted using PubMed, NIH, and Google Scholar. Studies published between 2015 and 2025 that focused on solely adult populations within Asia were selected. Studies that examine populations in both a clinical and non clinical context were included. Eligible studies were systematically reviewed and synthesized using quantitative summary. The reviewed literature consistently demonstrated that Salah decreases stress levels. Several studies reported cortisol stability through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. While others highlighted higher alpha wave processing promoting relaxation. Common mechanisms or moderators included the slower secretion of cortisol by the adrenocorticotropic hormone. Collectively, these findings suggest that Salah influences stress reduction and underscore the complex nature of the relationship between Salah and mental health. Variability in results may be attributed to differences in study design and population. This review highlights the importance of intentional and sincere Salah as a means of stress reduction among Muslim populations. These findings have implications for clinical practice and future research on stress reduction methods. Further high quality longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the relevance of Salah as a valuable stress reduction method amongst randomized populations on a global scale.
Islamic Prayer (Salah) and Stress Regulation: A Structured Review of Biomarkers and Psychological Outcomes
The relationship between Islamic prayer (Salah) and stress regulation has been extensively examined in Muslim populations because of its relevance to mental health. However, findings are dispersed across studies using varied methodologies. This structured literature review synthesizes existing research on Salah and stress reduction, focusing on outcomes such as changes in stress related biomarkers and self reported well being among Muslim populations. A structured literature search was conducted using PubMed, NIH, and Google Scholar. Studies published between 2015 and 2025 that focused on solely adult populations within Asia were selected. Studies that examine populations in both a clinical and non clinical context were included. Eligible studies were systematically reviewed and synthesized using quantitative summary. The reviewed literature consistently demonstrated that Salah decreases stress levels. Several studies reported cortisol stability through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. While others highlighted higher alpha wave processing promoting relaxation. Common mechanisms or moderators included the slower secretion of cortisol by the adrenocorticotropic hormone. Collectively, these findings suggest that Salah influences stress reduction and underscore the complex nature of the relationship between Salah and mental health. Variability in results may be attributed to differences in study design and population. This review highlights the importance of intentional and sincere Salah as a means of stress reduction among Muslim populations. These findings have implications for clinical practice and future research on stress reduction methods. Further high quality longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the relevance of Salah as a valuable stress reduction method amongst randomized populations on a global scale.
