Religious Well-being Research Articles

When Meaning Matters: Coping Mediates the Relationship of Religiosity and Illness Appraisal with Well-Being in Older Cancer Patients

ABSTRACTWhen individuals face serious, traumatic illnesses such as cancer, religion can contribute to their coping processes and psychosocial adjustment. In the current study, we examined the relationship between religiosity conceptualized as the religious meaning system, illness appraisal, and psychological well-being with religious and nonreligious coping as potential mediators of this relationship among older cancer patients. In a cross-sectional design, 215 older Polish patients (60–83 years of age; 80% Catholic, 9% Protestant) with gastrointestinal cancer completed measures of religiosity, illness appraisal, religious coping, nonreligious coping, and psychological well-being. Using structural equation modeling analysis, we found support for our model depicting a mediated relationship between religiosity, illness appraisal, and psychological well-being. Three forms of coping—negative religious, problem focused, and meaning focused—were key mechanisms in the relationship between the religious meaning system, positive and negative illness appraisal, and psychological well-being. These findings suggest that both religious factors (religiosity and religious coping) and nonreligious factors (illness appraisal and nonreligious coping) can operate together in influencing older cancer patients’ well-being.

Ministerial satisfaction and spiritual well-being among women ministering in Korean Baptist churches

Over the last 20 years, women in ministerial positions have played an essential role in Korean Baptist churches. Thus, this study measured the ministerial satisfaction of women in ministerial positions according to their individual and religious backgrounds. The relationship between spiritual well-being and ministerial satisfaction was also examined. A total of 162 women in various ministerial positions in Korean Baptist churches participated in this research study. Our findings from hierarchical regressions showed that marital status and seminary education had negative effects on both intrinsic and extrinsic ministerial satisfaction, and total ministerial satisfaction. However, other elements such as education level, church size, and ministerial status did not have significant effects on ministerial satisfaction. While religious well-being was not a significant predictor of ministerial satisfaction, one subscale of spiritual well-being, existential well-being, was the strongest predictor. The implications of this study and potential discussion for further research in this field are presented.

Gratitude, Social Cognition, and Well-Being in Emerging Adolescents

The authors explored Canadian emerging adolescents' social and moral reasoning skills (empathy, theory of mind), and their perceptions of gratitude, self-competencies, and well-being (spiritual, emotional). As part of a larger five-year longitudinal study, the authors describe results of Year 2 (2016–2017) data from 46 ninth-grade students (33 girls; Mage = 13.5 years, SD = 5.436 years) from eight schools (Ontario, Canada). Students’ perceptions of gratitude, spirituality, self-compassion, competencies, and well-being were measured by self-report questionnaires. Significant positive correlations were found among adolescents’ perceptions of gratitude, self-competencies, and emotional and spiritual well-being. Differently valenced patterns of associations were found among students’ perceptions of gratitude (appreciation for others and sense of abundance), self-compassion, and existential well-being, and spiritual comfort, and omnipresence. Simple appreciation was the only aspect of gratitude to show significant positive relations with religious well-being. Significant positive correlations were found between gratitude (sense of abundance) and self-compassion, whereas significant negative correlations were found between self-compassion and empathy, theory of mind, existential well-being, and religious well-being. Implications for theory and educational applications are discussed.

The relationship between spiritual health and demographic characteristic of students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences

Background: Spiritual well-being is considered as an important aspect of heath. It plays an important role in the development of health outcomes. Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the statues of spiritual well-being of student of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences as the health care providers. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 307 students which selected from Qazvin University of Medical Science by multi-stage sampling in 2019. The data were collected using Ellison and Paloutzian 20-items spiritual well-being questionnaire. The reliability of questionnaire was examined through cronbach's coefficient alpha approach. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and ANOVA. Findings: The results showed that the mean of religious well-being was 36.20±6.84, existential wellbeing 34.59±5.82 and total spiritual scores were moderate (70.78±11.33). Significant relationships were found between spiritual well-being and field of study (P<0.001), level of study (P=0.004), and housing conditions (P<0.001). Conclusion: According to the findings, the level of spiritual well-being among students was moderate which was related to their field, level of study and housing conditions. Due to the impact of these results on the health outcomes of the community, it should stimulate discussion about the necessity of planning to improve the level of students' spiritual well-being according to their demographic variables. Keywords: Spiritual well-being, Existential well-being, Religion, Demographic factors

Spiritual well-being and quality of life in patients with spinal cord injury: A study from Iran

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between spiritual well-being and health-related quality of life (QOL) among patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).SettingBrain and SCI Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study. A sample of patients with SCI participated in the study and completed two questionnaires: the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) in order to collect data on vitality, social functioning, mental health and role emotional and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) to measure religious and existential well-being. The association between spiritual well-being and health-related QOL was then assessed.ResultsIn all 213 patients were studied. The mean age of patients was 43.5 (SD = 10.8) years, and most were male (77.5%). The results obtained from generalized linear regression analysis indicated that religious well-being and existential well-being were significant contributing factors to improved vitality, social functioning, mental health and role emotional.ConclusionThe findings suggest that having higher levels of spiritual well-being might improve quality of life in people with spinal cord injury.

Religion and Life Satisfaction: A Correlational Study of Undergraduate Students in Trinidad.

Religious behaviour tends to correlate positively with life satisfaction. The predictive power of this relationship is associated with various socio-demographic factors such as age, gender and religious affiliation. We investigated the relationship between religious involvement and life satisfaction in a multi-religious population of undergraduate medical students of the University of the West Indies. We used a cross-sectional design to assess 228 undergraduates (50 males and 178 females) on religiosity, religious well-being and life satisfaction using the Religious Orientation Test, Religious Well-Being subscale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale, respectively. Respondents also provided socio-demographic information such as age, gender and religious affiliation. "How religious one considers oneself" was the religiosity construct most significantly associated with life satisfaction while "frequency of prayer" was the least. Christians registered higher religiosity and religious well-being but non-Christians reported significantly higher life satisfaction. Muslim and Hindu scores on religiosity, religious well-being and life satisfaction were not statistically different. Females scored higher than males on religiosity (borderline significant, p = .054) and significantly higher on religious well-being (p < .01); however, there was no significant difference between males and females on life satisfaction. The "religious affiliation" group scored significantly higher on religiosity and religious well-being compared with the "no religious affiliation" group but there was no difference between these two groups on life satisfaction. Religiosity and religious well-being were overall significantly and positively associated with life satisfaction. However, in demographic groups where there was higher religiosity, for example females, Christians, people affiliated with a religion and older people, it was not associated with greater life satisfaction.

Protocol for a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial to Compare the “Taste &amp; See” Programme—A Church-Based Programme to Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food—With a Wait-List Control

(1) Background: Obesity is strongly associated with poor mental-health. Spiritual and religious wellbeing is associated with improved mental well-being and reduced emotional eating. “Taste &amp; See”, a church based programme to help develop a healthy relationship with food has been successfully tested for feasibility in the UK but an adequately powered randomised controlled trial is needed to test efficacy. This paper reports on the protocol for such a trial; (2) Method: A cluster, randomised controlled trial where Christian churches (any denomination) are the unit of randomisation. 150 overweight adults will be recruited from approximately 15 churches (clusters) in the UK, each church (cluster) will recruit approximately 10 participants. Churches will be randomised 2:1 to either begin the “Taste &amp; See” programme immediately or in 10 weeks’ time. Data on eating habits, mental and spiritual health will be collected online before and after the intervention and control period and follow-up will continue until 2 years; (3) Implication of Results: Should the programme prove effective it will provide strong clinical evidence of the role of churches in improving the health and well-being of those struggling with food and weight issues.

Public religious activities, stress, and mental well-being in the United States: the role of religious reframing in coping

ABSTRACTReligious reframing is applying religious beliefs to an assessment of stressful personal situations. If public religious activities (e.g., religious volunteering) meet the necessary criteria to enable religious reframing, they may serve to limit (or “buffer”) the negative impact of stressors (e.g., family conflict) on mental well-being. Based on this dynamic, two out of three public religious activities (i.e., religious volunteering and religious group activities, but not religious service attendance) were predicted to buffer stress based on their capacity to enable religious reframing. Predictions were supported by hierarchical linear regressions using data for Americans aged 40 and older (N = 2579). This research proposes a framework for using religious reframing as the basis for making predictions about relative stress-buffering performances. It also finds that religious service attendance – the most common form of public religious involvement – does not enable religious reframing to the point of effectuating stress buffering.

Stigma and Spiritual Well-being among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Appalachia

The Appalachian South is disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Partly due to the negative connotation that this disease carries in religiously conservative areas, HIV-related stigma remains a critical barrier to HIV care in the South. However, spirituality is a well-documented, effective coping mechanism among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between HIV-related stigma and spiritual well-being among a sample of PLWH (n = 216) in Appalachian counties of Tennessee and Alabama using the HIV Stigma Scale and the Spiritual Well-being Scale. Overall, disclosure of HIV status was the most highly reported stigma concern. Women reported higher levels of stigma and religious well-being than men. While existential well-being was negatively correlated with stigma, no significant overall correlation was found between religious well-being and stigma. Our findings reveal the importance of defining theology and differentiating between cultural religious conditioning and internalized beliefs.

Childhood Sexual Abuse and Suicidal Ideation Among Bipolar Patients: Existential But Not Religious Well-Being as a Protective Factor.

Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) are at an increased risk of Suicidal ideation, attempts, and death. Moreover, a strong association exists between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and suicidal ideation among individuals with BD. Yet growing evidence suggests that existential well-being (EWB) may be a protective factor against suicidality. In this study, adult BD patients (N=112) provided data on CSA, religious well-being (RWB; spiritual life in relation to God), EWB (purpose/meaning in life), and suicidal ideation. Participants were between 19 and 65 years of age. The majority was female and described their race/ethnicity as African American. Results indicated that CSA was negatively associated with EWB and was not related to RWB. Further, EWB mediated the association between CSA and suicidal ideation, whereas RWB did not. Having meaning/purpose in life may serve as a protective factor against suicidal ideation among individuals with BD who experienced CSA, whereas having a relationship/belief in God may not serve the same function.

Bem-Estar Espiritual e Religião em Doutorandos de Universidade Comunitária

O bem-estar espiritual conecta-se ao significado da vida de maneira ampla, possibilitando o equilíbrio emocional, a qualidade de vida e o desenvolvimento de valores éticos e morais que podem interferir nas questões biológicas, psicológicas e sociais do indivíduo. Este estudo objetivou avaliar o bem-estar espiritual em doutorandos de uma universidade comunitária de Pelotas-RS a fim de verificar sua associação com fatores sociodemográficos e autoavaliação de saúde e vida. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, com amostra de conveniência, que examinará o bem-estar espiritual em doutorandos de Programas de Pós-Graduação. Os participantes responderam ao questionário com fatores sociodemográficos, autoavaliação da saúde e da vida e ao instrumento – versão longa da Escala de Bem-Estar Espiritual (EBE) – que são autoaplicáveis. Foram utilizados os testes t, ANOVA e correlação de Pearson para a análise. Os resultados apresentaram maiores escores de bem-estar espiritual e religioso em doutorandos que têm alguma religião, realizam práticas religiosas e tem frequência na atividade; observou-se correlação significativa do bem-estar religioso com a renda familiar. O estudo mostra a importância do bem-estar espiritual como fator de proteção em questões sociais, psicológicas e profissionais, principalmente em momentos tensos e de sobrecarga em que vivem os doutorandos.Palavras-chave: Espiritualidade, Religião, Educação Superior

Effects of sacred music on the spiritual well-being of bereaved relatives: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of instrumental sacred music and sacred music with vocals on the spiritual well-being of bereaved relatives. METHOD This is a randomized clinical trial carried out with family members bereaving the death of loved ones to cancer. Participants were allocated into three groups: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (experimental using sacred music with vocals) or Group 3 (experimental using instrumental sacred music). Spiritual well-being was assessed through the Spiritual Well-Being Scale. RESULTS Sixty-nine (69) family members participated. Mean scores before and after the intervention indicated high levels of spiritual well-being (106.4 and 105.5 in Group 1; 103.2 and 105.2 in Group 2; 107.4 and 108.7 in Group 3) and religious well-being (57.9 and 56.9 in Group 1; 56.3 and 56.4 in Group 2; 57.4 and 58.1 in Group 3), and moderate levels of existential well-being (48.5 and 48.6 in Group 1; 46.9 and 48.9 in Group 2; 49.9 and 50.7 in Group 3), with the exception of Group 3 which presented a high level of existential well-being after the intervention. CONCLUSION The results show that there were no statistically significant differences in the spiritual well-being scores between the experimental groups and the control group. We evidence the need for further studies that use music therapy as a Nursing intervention for bereaved families. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-2wtwjz.

Spiritual Well-Being, Depression, and Stress Among Hemodialysis Patients in Jordan.

The spiritual dimension of a patient's life is an important factor that may mediate detrimental impacts on mental health. The lack of research investigating spiritual well-being, religiosity, and mental health among Jordanian hemodialysis patients encouraged this research. This study explored levels of spiritual well-being and its associations with depression, anxiety, and stress. A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational study. A sample of 218 Jordanian Muslim hemodialysis patients completed a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear multivariate regression models. The hemodialysis patients had, on average, relatively low levels of spiritual well-being, moderate depression, severe anxiety, and mild to moderate stress. The results of the regression models indicated that aspects of spiritual well-being were negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, but only existential well-being consistently retained significant associations after controlling for religious well-being, religiosity, and sociodemographic variables. Greater spiritual and existential well-being of Jordanian hemodialysis patients were significantly associated with less depression, anxiety, and stress. It appears that these patients use religious and spiritual beliefs and practices as coping mechanisms to overcome their depression, anxiety, and stress. The implications for holistic clinical practice are explored.

Suicidal ideation and hopelessness in PTSD: spiritual well-being mediates outcomes over time

ABSTRACTBackgroundThere is an increased interest in understanding the mechanisms through which post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) relates with hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Spiritual well-being could help explain the link between PTSD and both hopelessness and suicidal ideation in African Americans. However, no study has examined the mediational role of existential and religious well-being among these variables.ObjectivesTo examine if initial levels of existential and religious well-being mediated the relation between levels of PTSD symptoms and prospective levels of hopelessness and suicidal ideation in a sample of African American females.DesignThe study used a longitudinal design with a 10-week time interval.MethodsThe sample comprised of 113 disadvantaged African American women survivors of a recent suicide attempt recruited from a southern hospital. Self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and spiritual well-being were administered to examine the variables of interest. Bootstrapping techniques were used to test the mediational models.ResultsExistential, but not religious well-being, mediated the relationship between levels of PTSD symptoms severity and both levels of hopelessness and suicidal ideation over time.ConclusionsExistential well-being appears to play a promising protective role against the negative effects of PTSD on both hopelessness and suicidal ideation.

Measuring mental health in the clinical setting: what is important to service users? The Mini-Service user Recovery Evaluation scale (Mini-SeRvE)

Background: Since 2001, a policy of positive mental health recovery has been promoted in the UK, with service user involvement. This has not been easy to implement in the clinical setting.Aims: To develop and validate a brief self-report, service user-designed, outcome measure (Mini-SeRvE), for clinical use, including spiritual and religious issues.Methods: From the previously developed Service user Recovery Evaluation scale (SeRvE), 15 questions were selected for Mini-SeRvE which was self-completed by 207 people; 100 service users and, for comparison, 107 staff. Results were analysed using SPSS software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).Results: Mini-SeRvE is reliable, Cronbach’s alpha 0.852. Correlation with another recovery scale, Mental Health Recovery Measure, was high, r = 0.819. Three reliable subscales emerged; existential well-being (EWB), mental ill-being (MIB) and religious well-being (RWB). Scores of the EWB and MIB subscales were higher for staff, consistent with higher mental well-being. Religious well-being scores were higher in service users, who also rated religion as more important to them.Conclusions: Mini-SeRvE is a valid measure of service user recovery. The importance of religion/spiritual belief for our users is highlighted, this being reflected in the subject matter of Mini-SeRvE. Mini-SeRvE assessments could show individual priorities, evaluate therapy and aid clinical decision-making.

Spirituality as a determinant of health risk behaviour among black university students in Limpopo, South Africa

Data from 333 Black university students in Limpopo, South Africa were used to investigate the association between the spirituality dimensions of religious and existential wellbeing (RWB and EWB) and health risk behaviours. The mean scores of almost all health risk behaviours, with the exception of the daily eating of healthy foods, varied according to the levels of RWB (p ≤ 0.05). On the other hand, with regards to levels of EWB, the analysis of physical activity produced a gender by EWB interaction only, and the results pertaining to the drinking of alcoholic beverages were marginal (p ≤ 0.10). There was a marginal gender by EWB effect for cigarette and marijuana use (p ≤ 0.10), with a 0.019 effect size (partial eta squared) for each analysis, and a gender effect for both (p ≤ 0.001 and 0.01, respectively). Effectively, there were no instances of statistically significant main effect of EWB (p &gt; 0.05). Apparently, the type or dimensionality of spirituality used is important, and future studies should investigate varied measures of the construct to establish its relationship with health risk behaviour.

Religious Fundamentalism, Humor, and Treatment Outcomes in Individuals in Court-Mandated Substance Abuse Outpatient Treatment.

The relationship between religious fundamentalism, humor, and psychological well-being was examined with a sample of individuals ( n = 109) being treated for drug abuse in a court-mandated AA outpatient program. Three separate factors of religious fundamentalism were found through exploratory factor analysis of the Revised Religious Fundamentalism Scale, and these were named Righteous-Evil Worldview, True Religion, and Scriptural Literalism. Psychological well-being of individuals in court-mandated outpatient substance abuse treatment was found to be correlated with high levels of humor but not religious fundamentalism. Psychological well-being and humor were found to be related to satisfaction with services; no relationship was found between religious fundamentalism and satisfaction with services. One factor of religious fundamentalism, Scriptural Literalism, was found to be associated with high levels of depression and paranoia/hostility. Implications of these relationships for treatment and understanding of religious fundamentalism and psychological well-being are discussed.

Kesejahteraan Agama dalam Kalangan Bekas Pengguna Dadah (BPD) bagi Mengurangkan Risiko Pengulangan Dadah

Religious is an important protective and preventive factor to help overcome social problems, particularly with regards to addiction relapse. Religion refers to a social institution which includes believers, faith and belief systems, and religious practices. Religious beliefs influence the well-being of individual and positively related to self-esteem and feeling of mastery which, in turn, are associated with psysical and psychological well-being. Religiousity is consistently linked to a positive vertical relationship between God and religion. A cross sectional quantitative research were carried out among 290 former drug users in seven Cure and Care Service Centers (CCSC) to investigate the effects of religiosity well-being on risk of drug relapse. Data were gathered using a survey questionnaire which was adapted from the Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (SWB) and Drug Taking Confidence Questionnaires (DTCQ), and was translated into the Malay language using back translation. Results revealed that there was a negative relationship between Religious Well-being (RWB) and drug relapse, in which the higher the RWB, the lower the risk of drug relapse. Thus, religious well-being approach was recommended. This approach provide an inclusive social work based interventions aimed to enhance the individual’s religious well-being through religious understanding, beliefs, and good practices towards better self-awareness, self-efficacy, resiliency, coping and self-locus control among the former drug users in order to reduce the risk of relapse.

Assessment of the Relationship between Spiritual and Social Health and the Self-Care Ability of Elderly People Referred to Community Health Centers.

Background:Promotion of self-care ability among older people is an essential means to help maintain and improve their health. However, the role of spiritual and social health has not yet been considered in detail in the context of self-care ability among elderly. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between spiritual and social health and self-care ability of older people referred to community health centers in Isfahan.Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional correlation study, 200 people, aged 60 years and older, referred to healthcare centers in 2016 were recruited through convenience sampling method. Data were collected by four-part tool comprising of: (a) demographics, (b) Ellison and Palotzin's spiritual well-being scale, (c) Kees's “social health” scale, and (d) self-care ability scale for the elderly by Soderhamn's; data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential (independent t-test, analysis of variance – ANOVA, Pearson's coefficient tests, and multiple regression analysis) statistics by SPSS16 software.Results:Findings showed that the entered predictor variables were accounted for 41% of total variance (R2) of the two self-care ability in the model (p < 0.001, F3, 199 = 46.02). Two out of the three predictor variables including religious well-being and social health, significantly predicted the self-care ability of older people.Conclusions:The results of this study emphasized on the relationship between spiritual and social health of the elderly people and their ability to self-care. Therefore, it would be recommended to keep the focus of the service resources towards improving social and spiritual health to improve self-care ability in elderly people.

Prediction of the Dimensions of the Spiritual Well-Being of Students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran: The Roles of Demographic Variables.

Spiritual well-being is one of the aspects of well-being which organize the physical, psychological, and social aspects. Given the outstanding and unique roles of students in society, providing spiritual well-being as well as identifying and eliminating the negative factors affecting their mental well-being are of the essence. The present study aimed to predict the dimensions of the spiritual well-being of students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences and to investigate the roles of demographic variables in this respect. In this descriptive and correlational study, the statistical population was comprised of 346 doctoral students in the for-profit Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceuticals in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016. For data collection, an instrument comprising the demographic questions and the 20-item spiritual well-being scale by Paloutzian and Ellison (1982) was utilized. To analyze data, the descriptive (frequency distribution, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and chi-squared test) were employed in the SPSS Statistics Software Version 21.0. The results of the present study demonstrated that the spiritual well-being of students was average (71.86±4.84), and of all demographic variables under study, only the variable of gender significantly correlated with the mean score of spiritual well-being. Also, the results revealed that the students' score of religious well-being measured higher than that of their existential well-being. However, a significant correlation was found between spiritual well-being and its dimensions. Also, the religious and existential well-being were found to be significantly related (p<0.05). The results of the present study showed the significance of addressing the issue of spirituality among the students of the for-profit Schools at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Therefore, it is recommended that appropriate plans be laid by the culture and education policy makers to promote the spiritual well-being of university students.