Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to explore spiritual perspectives and comfort levels of African American families and mental health care nurses within the context of depression. This study aimed to support the idea of testing a theoretical framework designed to increase comfort levels of nurses striving to incorporate spirituality within their practice and to assist in endorsing a culturally sensitive treatment option in population health for African American families within the context of depression. Method: The participants consisted of mental health nurses (N = 30) between the ages of 29 and 68 years, and 30 African American families (N = 63) with members between the ages of 17 and 85 years. The nurses reported working with individuals who had an Axis I diagnosis of clinical depression. The families included members who self-reported an Axis I diagnosis of clinical depression and no other mental illnesses. All participants lived in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, area at the time of the study. A descriptive statistical quantitative design and a phenomenological qualitative method were used. All participants’ spiritual perspectives were measured by the spiritual perspective scale (SPS), and comfort levels were measured by the spiritual comfort level indicator (SCLI). Results: Findings indicate the families and nurses had high scores on the SPS. However, the families scored significantly higher on the SCLI. Conclusions: Implications for nursing practice and research include using the theoretical framework to help increase cultural competence and comfort levels of nurses incorporating spirituality into their practice and population health.
Highlights
Research inquiries have provided evidence that spiritual perspectives play a significant role within the context of depression
Investigator(s)’ suggested that these activities can help guard against depression, in those who are genetically predisposed to the mental health disorders
Phase I of this study consisted of pilot testing the Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS) on family
Summary
Research inquiries have provided evidence that spiritual perspectives play a significant role within the context of depression. “a form of self – transcendence that emphasize religious as well as broader spiritual views and practices such as prayer, meditation, forgiveness, and belief in God or a Higher Purpose where there is a distinct since of consecutiveness to something greater than self ” (as cited in [1], p.9). Research studies provide evidence that engaging in regular prayer, meditation or other spiritually related practices are linked to a thickening of the brain cortex [2]. The study involved 103 adults at either high or low risk of depression, based on family history. “the thicker cortex was found in the same regions of the brain that had otherwise shown thinning in people at high risk for depression” ([2], para 1-10)
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