Spirit and Human-Spiritual Interaction as a Factor in Health and in Health Education

The Relationship Between Religious Beliefs and Quality of Life Among Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Patients with chronic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), are prone to emotional distresses and reduction in life quality more than others. This study aimed to assess the relationship between religious beliefs and quality of life among patients with MS. In this study, 145 MS patients completed 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) questionnaires. The results indicated that unorganized religious activities were significantly associated with marital status and education level. Besides, internal religion was positively correlated to mental health. However, religious variables were not effective prognostic factors in physical and mental quality of life. Overall, further studies have to be conducted to determine the role of religion in quality of life of MS patients with different religious backgrounds.

The importance of spiritual assessment when caring for older adults

There is a growing body of literature documenting the positive effects of both religiousness and spirituality on human health, particularly among those who are ageing or diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. These positive effects provide buffers to life's stressors such as those associated with mental illness, care-giver burden, substance abuse and social disruption resulting from war. An important aspect of health care for individuals of all ages involves completion of a spiritual assessment. This paper explores the concept of spirituality and spiritual assessment, which has many definitions in the literature, and also provides examples of assessment tools from theology, nursing, social work and medicine.

The influence of religiosity and spirituality on drinking behaviors: differences between students attending two southern universities

The purpose of this study was to determine if students (n = 431) from two southern universities-one in the "buckle" of the Bible-belt, the other a southern "border" state-have different drinking behaviors depending on their religiosity and spirituality. Approximately 95% of students indicated that they had at least one drink of alcohol during their lives, with almost 82% reporting that they used alcohol in the past 30 days. Binge drinking among underage students increased every year (approximately 43% to almost 70%). Students from the buckle university had higher degrees of religiosity and spirituality and reported fewer unhealthy drinking behaviors than those from the border university. By creating a learning environment where students are encouraged to increase the spiritual dimension of health, health educators may alleviate potentially deadly consequences of alcohol.

Spirituality and chronic illness

PURPOSE

To present a comprehensive overview of spirituality and identify strategies to support the spiritual dimensions of nursing care for people with chronic illness, focusing specifically on HIV-related illness and AIDS.

SIGNIFICANCE AND SCOPE

The AIDS crisis has brought new emphasis to the need to develop therapeutic interventions to support the coping resources of people living and dying with chronic illness. Conceptual, theoretical, and empirical knowledge related to spirituality was reviewed, integrated, and interpreted within the context of nursing care for this population, emphasizing the spiritual needs of people with HIV-related illness and AIDS.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Spirituality has evolved beyond religious considerations to encompass multidimensional and existential perspectives that are integral to maintaining well-being for the chronically ill. A deeper understanding of spirituality enhances the potential for nurses to identify spiritual needs and incorporate spiritual caring into practice.

Spirituality in terminal illness. An alternative view of theory

I use data and insights gained from 10 years of research and practice on psychosocial and spiritual aspects of living with HIV to outline a critique of extant knowledge on spirituality and to propose an alternative. Nurses are in an excellent position to experience the human spirit. We can use the resultant understandings to be present with others and to become more self-aware and self-loving. I present here my philosophy and personal rules for understanding the spirit that were taught to me by patients and knowledgeable research participants as they helped me to see how my professional objectivity and application of professional knowledge were anathema to their self-discovery. I present a critique of some of the confining aspects of nursing theory, particularly that which is built on developmental frameworks to show how our vision is skewed negatively by these frameworks, and how it may cause us to look down at patients rather than at them as equals.

Religiosity as a dimension of well-being: a challenge for professional nursing

The principles of holistic nursing require understanding the human individual as a complex and coherent entity consisting of physical, psychic, social, and spiritual dimensions. Considering the research evidence about people's experiences of well-being, the spiritual dimension, here regarded as synonymous with religiosity, does not seem to receive due attention in nursing. This article describes the appearance of religiosity as an integral part of people's experiences of well-being. Data from interviews with 40 adults who had contacted the primary health care system were analyzed on the basis of a qualitative, thematic analysis. Christians who belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland incorporated their religious values into their experiences of well-being. These values were reflected in ideas of the good life, in solutions to everyday problems, and in self-care. The results highlight the importance of a nursing concept that recognizes each patient's individual well-being.

Review of spiritual health: definition, role, and intervention strategies in health promotion

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW. Recognition of the spiritual dimension as a vital component of human wellness has led to an increased interest in spirituality education, yet very little progress has been made in identifying possible intervention methods for enhancing spirituality. The purpose of this article is to review current definitions of spiritual health; provide an overview of several successful intervention methods that may enhance spiritual health; and outline potential relationships between spiritual health interventions and behavioral, emotional, and physical health outcomes. SEARCH METHOD USED. Research and review articles were identified through a CD-ROM computer search of ERIC (1966 to 1994), PSYCHLIT (1974 to 1994), and MEDLINE (1991 to 1994) databases using appropriate key words. Cumulative indexes from Advances (1984 to 1993) were manually searched, and reference lists from identified studies and literature reviews were analyzed. A total of 71 articles were identified and considered. Model interventions were chosen for presentation on the basis of soundness of research design, peer-review publication, clear description of intervention method, and relationship to spiritual health components. SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT FINDINGS. Imagery, meditation, and group support activities may address various components of spiritual health such as meaning and purpose in life; self-awareness; and connectedness with self, others, and a larger reality. In turn, positive changes in health behaviors such as communication, diet activity, and treatment compliance were noted, and a variety of beneficial physical and emotional health outcomes such as heart disease reversal, decreased cancer mortality, reduced anxiety, and improved mood states were reported. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS. Health educators are in a position to develop, implement, and evaluate spiritual health interventions within the context of comprehensive programs. There is a need for training in the theoretical and methodologic foundations of interventions like meditation, imagery, and group support and a need for more evaluation research in the impact of such interventions.

Exploring spirituality and consciousness with an expanded science: beyond the ego with empiricism, phenomenology, and contemplation

Spirituality has been recognized as pivotal in health education and health promotion. Although spirituality is often discussed as a dimension of health, there is little evidence of integrating it into educational settings and health promotion programs. The difficulty in addressing the concept of spirituality is related to both its association with denominational religion and our cultural emphasis on the material realm. However, some scholars are now associating spirituality with the development of human consciousness beyond the ego level. It has been suggested that the scientific investigation of this development beyond the ego may be possible with empirical and phenomenological, as well as with traditional contemplative methods. Thus, investigation in the realms of consciousness beyond the ego can be addressed within theories of knowledge that are grounded in experience. An examination of the spirituality/consciousness relationship may be crucial for any profession that purports to address the health issues of the whole person. It may then be possible to more easily integrate spirituality into educational settings and health enhancement programs. If spirituality is part of human experience, then willingness to make forays into this dimension is fundamental to health.