Tapping Into Faith on Our Phones: Psychology Explains How Faith-Based Apps Can Positively Impact Well-Being (July 2025) 

While browsing the App Store, app users may be drawn to download popular apps like Snapchat or Instagram, which are often associated with negative effects on mental health. However, one overlooked option is a religious app which research suggests may support spiritual life and overall mental health. With millions of users worldwide, faith-based apps have caught the attention of researchers, who are now investigating whether they truly improve users’ health and well-being, and if so, what motivates users to engage with these apps?

To explore usage patterns of faith-based apps and their associations with health outcomes, researchers turned to pray.com, which, with over 12 million downloads, is regarded as the world’s number one app for daily prayer. Surveying over 1,000 subscribers, their 2024 study published in the Journal of Religion and Health indicated a link between usage of pray.com and improved well-being in users. The majority of users reported an increase in spiritual well-being outcomes, with 66% of respondents reporting a closer relationship with God and nearly 60% reporting an improvement in their overall prayer life. Many also experienced progress in their mental and physical health, noting reduced stress and better sleep.

Since faith-based apps have the potential to improve users' health and well-being, it is important to understand what might motivate individuals to choose this type of app. To do this, we can turn to psychology, specifically, the self-determination theory (SDT). The self-determination theory, which is a framework for understanding human motivation, was used in a recent study to explain what drives people to engage in certain behaviors. Published in The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, this 2024 study analyzed motivations behind faith in adolescents. They found that external motivation, like pursuing religion because of parental pressure or to avoid punishment, was correlated with negative outcomes in mental health. On the other hand, intrinsic motivation, engaging in religious activities because they are truly satisfactory, resulted in overwhelmingly positive outcomes. This supports the self-determination theory’s emphasis on autonomy, suggesting that when individuals have the freedom to do what they want, they are more likely to pursue activities because they are intrinsically motivated to do them. Users of faith-based apps may be more likely to reap the positive benefits because they are choosing to press the download button, open the app, and actively engage with their faith.

While one may succeed in pressing the download button on a faith-based app, to truly benefit from it they will need long-term motivation: a reason to stay on the app and engage routinely. A recent study analyzing the user experience of Islamic religious apps found there are advancements that must be made in order to successfully foster the core factors of self-determination theory: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The study concluded that there is a need for these apps to be more personalized, with adaptive features such as goal setting, in order to keep people motivated to continue their spiritual journey. And, once the app is closed, a nudge like a prayer reminder notification or a daily streak can successfully increase usage frequency, boosting engagement with faith on a daily basis.

By diving deeper into the inner workings of the brain, researchers can work to better understand what psychologically motivates users to return to these apps regularly, and how to leverage this usage in a way that fosters lasting spiritual engagement, promotes well-being, and supports healthier relationships with both technology and faith.

Ultimately, the decision of which apps we choose to download can have a positive or negative impact on our health. While social media apps dominate screen time and contribute to stress, research indicates that integrating more intentional, faith-based apps can lead to positive change in life.

Final Note: I would love your help with my research project! Please share your thoughts on faith-based apps by filling out the short survey linked here: https://forms.gle/jhTHnskEcjBW99Wb6 

Sources:

1. Brambilla M, Assor A. Understanding the psychology of religion: The contribution of self-determination theory. In: Van Tongeren DR, Davis DE, Worthington EL Jr, eds. The Science of Religion, Spirituality, and Existentialism. Academic Press; 2020:83-90. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-817204-9.00007-X

2. Hardy SA, Nelson JM, Frandsen SB, Cazzell AR, Goodman MA. Adolescent religious motivation: A self-determination theory approach. Int J Psychol Relig. 2022;32(1):16-30. doi:10.1080/10508619.2020.1844968

3. Kabir M, Kabir MR, Islam RS. Islamic lifestyle applications: meeting the spiritual needs of modern Muslims. arXiv. Published February 5, 2024. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.02061

4. Laird B, Van Tongeren DR, Hook JN, Do B, Hall T, Huberty J. Exploring User Perceptions of a Mobile App for Religious Practices. J Relig Health. 2024;63(3):2068-2090. doi:10.1007/s10943-024-02004-9 

About the Author

Anna, a 17 year old student from California, is the founder of the Psychology Club at her school and is passionate about studying the intersection of Psychology and Theology. She aims to explore how engagement with one's faith promotes well-being.