SWS survey: Most Filipinos turn to prayer to cope with stress
MANILA, Philippines – When life gets heavy, most Filipinos find solace in prayer.
A new Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that praying or engaging in spiritual activities is the top way Filipinos cope with stress, cited by 16% of 1,500 adult respondents interviewed nationwide from September 24 to 30, 2025.
The non-commissioned survey revealed that the next most common coping methods were resting or sleeping (14%), going out (11%), thinking positively (7%), focusing on school or work (6%), and ignoring the problem (6%).
Smaller portions of respondents said they spent time with family or exercised (5%), while 4% each said they played sports or online games, did household chores, talked with friends or neighbors, watched TV or movies, ate, or listened to music.
Meanwhile, only 2% said they browsed social media or drank alcohol, 1% tended gardens or smoked, 0.4% cried, and 0.2% sought medical help — the least preferred coping mechanism.
Faith as comfort
The data underscores how deeply faith and spirituality remain intertwined with Filipino life, especially in times of difficulty. Women were more likely than men to cope through prayer or spiritual activities, with 20% of women versus 12% of men citing it as their top response.
Regionally, praying was most common in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon (areas outside the capital), while in the Visayas and Mindanao, most respondents said they preferred resting or sleeping to manage stress.
The survey also showed that 34% of adult Filipinos reported feeling stressed “frequently,” up from 27% in 2019. Financial difficulties (53%) topped the list of major stress sources, followed by health concerns (42%), work or school pressures (39%), and family problems (38%).
The bigger picture
The results highlight both the resilience and the challenges of Filipino mental health coping strategies. While faith remains a powerful emotional anchor, the very low rate of those seeking professional or medical help — less than 1% — reflects the persistent stigma and lack of access to mental health services in the country.
The survey had a ±3% national margin of error and ±6% for each of Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao, and ±4% for Balance Luzon.
The SWS said the poll was conducted through face-to-face interviews and was not commissioned by any organization.
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