People with negative spiritual beliefs are more likely to suffer, according to a recent study.

Researchers from University of Missouri found that individuals who blame karma for their poor health have more pain and worse physical and mental health. They believe targeted interventions to counteract negative spiritual beliefs could help some individuals decrease pain and improve their overall health.

"In general, the more religious or spiritual you are, the healthier you are, which makes sense," Brick Johnstone, a neuropsychologist and professor of health psychology in the School of Health Professions, said in a statement. "But for some individuals, even if they have even the smallest degree of negative spirituality -- basically, when individuals believe they're ill because they've done something wrong and God is punishing them -- their health is worse."

For the study, researchers collected and analyzed data from nearly 200 people individuals who had to find out how their spiritual beliefs affected their health outcomes. The participants had a range of health conditions, such as cancer, traumatic brain injury or chronic pain, and others were healthy.

The volunteers were divided into two groups: a negative spirituality group that consisted of those who reported feeling abandoned or punished by a higher power, and a no negative spirituality group that consisted of people who didn't feel abandoned or punished by a higher power. Participants answered questions about their emotional and physical health, including physical pain.

"Previous research has shown that about 10 percent of people have negative spiritual beliefs; for example, believing that if they don't do something right, God won't love them," Johnstone said. "That's a negative aspect of religion when people believe, 'God is not supportive of me. What kind of hope do I have?' However, when people firmly believe God loves and forgives them despite their shortcomings, they had significantly better mental health."

In the new study, those in the negative spirituality group reported significantly worse pain as well as worse physical and mental health while those with positive spirituality reported better mental health. However, even if individuals reported positive spiritual beliefs, having any degree of negative spiritual belief contributed to poorer health outcomes.

Individuals with negative spiritual beliefs also reported participating in religious practices less frequently and having lower levels of positive spirituality and forgiveness. Interventions that help combat negative spiritual beliefs and promote positive spiritual beliefs could help some individuals improve their pain and their mental health.

The findings are detailed in the Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health.