Spirituality and Religiosity: Factors Affecting Wellness Among Low-Income, Rural Women

Differences in the association of spirituality, forgiveness, PTSD and stress among social workers and social work students treating trauma survivors

Providing professional assistance to trauma victims may cause significant emotional distress to those who provide the assistance. Dealing with such stress requires attention to significant personal resources. This study examined the relationship between tendency to forgive and spirituality with PTSD symptoms and stress among social workers and social work students (N = 157) who are at the front line dealing with trauma survivors. The study results demonstrated that social work students had higher levels of stress while no significant differences were found regarding spiritually, PTSD, and forgiveness. Examining the subscales revealed that social work students had higher negative PTSD alteration symptoms than trained social workers while trained social workers had higher levels of forgiveness to self. Additionally, structural equation models showed that among social workers, forgiveness to self and spirituality were associated simultaneously with lower PTSD symptoms and stress. However, among social work students, the tendency to forgive the self was associated with lower PTSD symptoms only. The findings illuminate spirituality and forgiveness as key factors that can help cope with the emotional toll of those who assist trauma survivors, while focusing on differences for trained professionals and training professionals. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Spirituality, Religiosity, Quality of Life and Mental Health Among Pantaneiros: A Study Involving a Vulnerable Population in Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil

This study aims to investigate the relationship between spirituality, religiosity (S/R), mental health and quality of life in a vulnerable population in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil. A total of 129 individuals were interviewed. We examined mental health (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), quality of life (SF-12), spirituality (self-spirituality rating scale), religiosity (DUREL) and R/S opinions. Individuals had high levels of spirituality, non-organizational and intrinsic religiosity, but low levels of religious attendance. Most participants said they would like to have their faith addressed by a health professional and that this approach would strengthen their trust on the doctors. Higher levels of spirituality were associated with less anxiety (β = - 0.236, p < 0.01) and depressive symptoms (β = - 0.398, p < 0.001); higher levels of non-organizational religiosity were associated with less anxiety (β = - 0.250, p < 0.01) and depressive symptoms (β = - 0.351, p < 0.001); and higher levels of intrinsic religiosity were associated with less depressive symptoms (β = - 0.315, p < 0.001). Quality of life was not associated with any religious/spiritual measures.

Applying critical realism in spirituality at work research

Purpose

This study aims to demonstrate how critical realism (CR) can be used in spirituality at work (SAW) research and to provide a practical example of CR in SAW research.

Design/methodology/approach

CR is a philosophical meta-theory that allows the stratification of spirituality into different levels of reality, advocates for research methods matching the ontology of the level investigated and provides complementary methods of exploring this phenomenon’s causal power in social contexts. The authors present a study where CR was used to explain how and why SAW influences ethics in organisational contexts.

Findings

The results demonstrate that CR provides a useful approach to bridging the positivist-interpretivist difference in SAW research. Moreover, a CR approach helped explain the underlying conditions and causal mechanisms that power SAW to influence ethical decision-making and behaviour in the workplace.

Originality/value

While CR has been applied in the management literature, negligible SAW research has used this approach. That which exists is either conceptual or does not discuss methods of data analysis, or describe how critical realist concepts resulted in their findings. This paper addresses that lacuna. CR also provides value, as an alternative approach to SAW research, in that it allows the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods as complementary, not confrontational methods while providing a more integrated and deeper view of SAW and its effects.

Psychometric properties of the Persian spiritual coping strategies scale in hemodialysis patients

Spiritual strategies may provide an effective way of coping with disease. This study sought to investigate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the spiritual coping strategies (SCS) scale among Iranian hemodialysis patients. A convenience sample of 204 hemodialysis patients was recruited to participate in the study. A forward-backward translation method was used to produce the Persian version of the scale. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha and item-total score correlation. Two-week test-retest reliability was also assessed. The convergent and divergent validity of the scale was evaluated using the Duke University Religion Index and a visual analogue scale for health status. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to assess the factor structure. Participants consisted of 113 males and 91 females (mean age 57.2 [SD = 9.7]). Cronbach's alpha was acceptable (0.87). We found two underlying factors similar to the original scale. The correlations between the study scales confirmed the convergent and divergent validity of the SCS. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit to the data (GFI = 0.923, CFI = 0.948 and RMSEA = 0.068). The Persian version of the SCS has sound psychometric properties in Iranian hemodialysis patients. Future research should consider applying the scale to populations with other religious/cultural backgrounds.

Clients’ Willingness to Incorporate Religion or Spirituality in Counseling

A total of 84 individuals with addiction issues (e.g., drugs, sex, weight, food, and codependency) were asked about their willingness to incorporate religion or spirituality in their counseling. These respondents expressed willingness to deal with religion or spirituality in counseling if the counselor was knowledgeable about their religion or spirituality. Degree of willingness was significantly related to clients’ religious background and age.