Photo: flickr/Guppydas
In "science that does not apply to atheists" news, this study shows that prayer can have a positive effect on relationships. But there's no need to invoke a deity to explain these results -- apparently, when one partner prays for the other, it increases their satisfaction with and commitment to the relationship. Just be careful: a previous study found that increased religious beliefs can also be a sign of "mating competitors".
I Say a Little Prayer for You: Praying for Partner Increases Commitment in Romantic Relationships. "Partner-focused petitionary prayer (PFPP) has received little attention in the prayer literature. In two studies, we examine PFPP to see whether it is uniquely important in conveying relationship benefits, whether its benefits are transmitted through an effect on relationship satisfaction, and whether one's own or the partner's PFPP is central to beneficial effects. In Study 1, we examined PFPP in a sample ...
