Not the parent but I have a thought on it. I'm not agnostic but a few years ago when I got really anxious about something praying/God helped me. I think the reason was that it took the thing that was making me anxious and passed the responsibility on to someone I thought could take care of the problem for me. I think it's similar to the way you felt comfortable when you were younger staying in your parents house but on your own might have got anxious. At your parents house the risks are the same but you've got someone there you feel will protect you. Essentially I think God/prayer helps because it gives you the feeling someone else more powerful than you is there to help.