A comprehensive review of literature on the relationship between spirituality and working women’s physical health and performance

Abstract

This systematic literature review (2020–2025) of 64 studies examines the associations between spiritual practices and the holistic well-being of working women. Interventions such as meditation, mindfulness, and workplace yoga are consistently linked to favorable shifts in the Mind-Body axis, characterized by lower cortisol levels and improved autonomic balance. These physiological changes track with significant self-reported improvements in emotional regulation, including reduced perceived anxiety, fatigue, and depression. In the professional domain, spiritual engagement is associated with improved workplace functioning, notably through higher job satisfaction and increased energy. While these trends suggest a positive relationship, the evidence remains primarily associative. The reliance on self-reported measures and heterogeneous samples highlights a need for longitudinal, gender-specific research to clarify how spiritual engagement supports women’s professional fulfillment.