The research published by Applied Research in Quality of Life, reported that a good education and having children at home also helped to ease stress.
Professor Michael Mutz of Georg-August-Universität Göttingen in Germany responded to the report saying, "People with a Christian affiliation and a strong sense of religiousness celebrate Christmas differently than the majority of non-Christians.
"Christian religious affiliation is a protective factor against the general decline of subjective well-being around Christmas.
"It can be assumed that [Christians] are less prone to becoming absorbed by the consumerism that precedes the holidays."
Professor Mutz noted that society is often pressured by a growing consumer culture, buying Christmas presents and fulfilling social obligations. Christians, although not exempt from hectic holiday pressures, had greater feelings of peace and contentment during the festive season than other study participants.
The study was conducted by questioning participants during pre and post-Christmas periods and comparing answers during the holidays with those given at other times of the year, excluding July and August.
The report analysed data from the European Social Survey and included 11 historically Christian countries: Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.