Spiritual Crisis Research Articles

Predictors of hazardous drinking and internet gaming severity among a military sample

AbstractResearchers have placed a necessary focus on the mental health and substance use needs of U.S. military populations. In the present study, we examined a sequential regression model in which psychological, emotional, and spiritual factors predicted hazardous drinking and internet gaming severity in a national sample of 207 with military identities. Results indicated that posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, shame, and negative religious coping predicted hazardous alcohol use. Additionally, religious and spiritual struggles predicted higher internet gaming severity. Future research is needed to better contextualize combat era demographics and mental health risk and protective factors associated with alcohol use and internet gaming among military populations.

‘Why Does This Happen to Me?’ Religious and Spiritual Struggles among Psychiatric Inpatients in The Netherlands: A Narrative Analysis

Background. Religious and spiritual (R/S) struggles may impact mental health treatment and recovery processes. The current study investigates how R/S struggles play a role in mental illness and what approaches are experienced as helpful. Methods. Thirty-five semi-structured interviews with clinical mental health patients in a Christian (N = 15) and a secular (N = 20) mental health clinic were narratively analyzed. Results. R/S struggles are common in people who suffer from mental illness and often coexist together with R/S support, mostly fluctuating over time. In summary, patients experience R/S struggles as negative feelings (e.g., loneliness, shame, mistrust) and the absence of positive feelings (e.g., hope and peace). These are influenced by someone’s R/S background and beliefs, as well as by the illness and other events. All participants appreciated a receptive approach (1) and many preferred an active approach (2) by mental health professionals. Some patients reported benefits from a directive approach (3). Conclusions. R/S struggles are tightly connected with other aspects that play a role in patients with mental illness. Mental health professionals are recommended to listen to patients’ narratives and carefully consider whether or not further interventions, in order to enhance R/S support and reduce R/S struggles, might be appropriate.

Interpretative phenomenological analysis of burnout among British police officers

Burnout is defined as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced efficacy (Maslach & Jackson, 1981). With burnout becoming increasingly prevalent within policing, this study aimed to expand awareness by exploring the lived experience of this syndrome for serving officers. Utilising a qualitative approach, data was derived from five participants using semi-structured interviews and an interpretative phenomenological methodology (IPA) for analysis. Six categories of themes emerged: perceived causes, personal impact factors, experiencing burnout, changed feelings and behaviour, the underlying meaning, and learning derived from the experience. Participants perceived organisational issues as the main cause of their burnout. They also described other aspects of their experience which contributed towards their long-term suffering. The relationship between burnout and spiritual crisis is discussed, an area rarely explored, but one that provides rich material for those focused on burnout research. It is hoped that this study will help inform work-based solutions and provide a platform for future investigation.

SIMBOLIČKI INTERAKCIONIZAM I HERMENEUTIKA KAO STRATEGIJE SOCIOLOŠKOG ODREĐENJA KULTURE / SYMBOLICAL INTERACTIONISM AND HERMENEUTICS AS STRATEGIES FOR THE SOCIOLOGICAL DETERMINATION OF CULTURE

In this paper, it is argued that symbolic interactionism and hermeneutics are possible strategies for the sociological determination of culture in the context of contemporary transformations of "cultural identities". The paper is based on the assumption that contemporary reflections on the sociological question of culture, due to the overemphasis of empirical research, have lost sight of some classic theoretical starting points that can be an important resource in determination and a better understanding of the general spiritual crisis of the modern world. With this idea in mind, the paper tries to accentuate two theoretical paradigms in the domains of their classical interpretation with the possibility of "strategic adjustment" of certain conceptual frameworks aimed at problematizing cultural reality on the "glocal" level. The paper in its various aspects is critical of the "Balkan" understanding of culture in the 21st century.

THE CULTURE OF TOLERANCE DEVELOPED IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Your reaction to tolerance and its promotion in the education system is unknown to me. Still, I am sure you will agree that in the traditional education system, the teacher is always right, and the student is not entitled to his or her opinion. This approach has no value and can not grow a developed society. Indeed, for the former USSR countries, this is something new because we are primarily accustomed to knowing only a few positions and not admitting that someone has other opinions or speaks like one or the other is wrong. But contemporary social processes characterized by trends of confrontation and disintegration that occur against the background of the spiritual crisis of society require a reflection in the field of education. In these circumstances, tolerance is more necessary than ever, as growing confrontations pose a potential universal threat to any person, family, society or region. This article addresses the issue of developing a culture of tolerance in education in response to the challenges of the contemporary world and European education systems. We will analyze the culture of tolerance, referring to the statistical data collected and interpreted in the ,,Study on Perceptions and Attitudes towards Equality in the Republic of Moldova", prepared by the Council for Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination and Ensuring Equality, and analysis of the project ,,Education for Democracy" in the Republic of Moldova", developed by the Council of Europe and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation under the program ,,Moldova: Promoting Active Civic Involvement", a project carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova 2019-2022. In this study, the position of some social groups in the Republic of Moldova compared to others is analyzed, starting from the premise that each social group is characterized by a specific worldview, operating with symbols and images inappropriate to other social groups, which it sometimes causes a chasm between the representatives of different social groups, manifested by distance, by a lack of understanding, acceptance and discrimination. Following the research, we draw attention to the need to conceptualize, design and achieve a culture of tolerance in the education system of the Republic of Moldova to train teachers to promote the values and ways of capitalizing on this new education.

МЕТОД ПРОЕКТОВ В РАМКАХ ПРАКТИКО-ОРИЕНТИРОВАННОГО ОБУЧЕНИЯ: ГЕНЕЗИС И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ НА СОВРЕМЕННОМ ЭТАПЕ

Practice-oriented learning and, in particular, the project method is becoming increasingly popular in the theory and practice of pedagogy. Originated at the beginning of Contemporary times as a desire for greater creativity and self-expression of the individual, it remains relevant at the present stage, especially given the large-scale spiritual and pedagogical crisis caused by the spread of mass culture. The need to reveal the potential of the project method dictates its active introduction into the pedagogical process of educational institutions and profound methodological development, taking into account the existing experience.

Return to Nature and Gain Self-consciousness

Abstract: With the deterioration of the global ecological environment, the thinking on ecological issues involving in Jack London’s novels has attracted more and more attention of the world. This paper attempts to interpret the profound spiritual ecological consciousness in Jack London’s The Valley of the Moon from the perspective of ecocriticism through text analysis. A study of spiritual ecology should provide an approach to the spiritual crisis by analyzing the essence of the spiritual ecology. This paper starts with analyzing the disorder of spiritual ecology including isolation from nature and loss of self-awareness, and goes further to give an analysis on Jack London’s proposal that human should return to nature and regain self-consciousness. Readers may gain some enlightenment from The Valley of the Moon and this paper.

Духовное равнодушие как результат идеологии и практики потребительского общества

The article presents an analysis of the development of the consumer society and its main features of manifestation at the present time. It is noted that the formation of consumer relations is due to the development of the ideas and practices of capitalism, which led, firstly, to economic and technical development, manifested in the growth of incomes of the population; blurring of boundaries between social classes; individualization and a sharp increase in the diversity of consumption. Secondly, the development of the desire to increase capital, social privileges, improve one’s own social status through the consumed products of production. Thirdly, the formation of a culture of behavior based on individual tastes, desires and values of people. The consumer society is analyzed from the standpoint of psychological, sociological and philosophical approaches, since the process of consumption of a modern person goes far beyond the purely economic framework and reflects not just the satisfaction of physical and physiological needs, but determines the psychological and socio-moral aspects of human life. It is shown that the traditions of the modern consumer society influence the formation of people’s spiritual indifference to each other. Under the influence of the ideology and practices of the consumer society, there is a shift in the hierarchy of human needs, which leads to a corresponding deformation of value systems. A person, striving to meet new social standards, ideals, patterns of consumer behavior, loses the traditional worldview, focused on society. Through consumed things, a person seeks to find self-expression, self-realization, gain social status and prestige. Such human qualities as compassion, kindness, respect, spirituality are deformed. This loss causes a spiritual and moral crisis, leading to the formation of spiritual indifference of a person to a person. Indifference, in turn, leads to social detachment, which contributes to the formation of a sense of disunity between people, to the alienation of people from each other and from oneself as a social being.

The mechanism underlying the relationship between the spiritual struggles and life satisfaction of Polish codependent individuals participating in Al-Anon – pilot study

ABSTRACT Codependency is a serious mental, emotional, social, and physical problem. Little is known about the spiritual mechanism of recovery among codependent individuals participating in Al-Anon self-help groups. The aim of this study was to verify whether spiritual struggles are indirectly through spiritual growth and hope, related to life satisfaction of codependent individuals. The achieved results confirmed the indirect effect of spiritual struggles on life satisfaction through the spiritual growth and hope of codependent individuals participating in Al-Anon. The research confirmed the mechanism underlying the relationship between spiritual struggles and the life satisfaction of codependent individuals participating in Al-Anon.

Investigating the Psychometric properties of the Religious and Spiritual Struggles Scale (RSSS) In Iranian Society

Investigating the Psychometric properties of the Religious and Spiritual Struggles Scale (RSSS) In Iranian Society

Considering the Subjective Well-Being of Israeli Jews during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Messaging Insights from Religiosity and Spirituality as Coping Mechanisms.

Consistent with Terror Management Theory (TMT), COVID-19 has made us question our mortality and past studies have indicated the importance of religiosity to enhance subjective well-being (SWB), however, studies on spirituality’s impact are incomplete. The pandemic has created an environment where both religiosity and spirituality may play a vital role. Israel was selected due to the emergence of Jewish spirituality, a phenomenon that is growing in importance but understudied. In response to these caveats, the current study examines the mediating role played by spirituality on the SWB of the religious during the pandemic. Participants from Israel (n = 138) were recruited via Qualtrics’ online panels. Findings showed Jews’ religiosity was important to enhance their SWB, i.e., religious beliefs bring certainty and happiness to one’s life, especially, during the COVID-19 pandemic. More importantly, spirituality mediated the effect of religiosity on SWB, specifically, spirituality was important to enhance the well-being of low religious Jews. Implications for health messaging during a global pandemic are discussed.

Scrupulosity in the Network of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, Religious Struggles, and Self-Compassion: A Study in a Non-Clinical Sample

Scrupulosity is a phenomenon of the intersection between religiosity and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It could be regarded as an interactive effect of religiosity, religious internal conflicts, cognitive distortions associated with thought processing and self-reference, and obsessiveness. The present study investigated scrupulosity in the network of religious/spiritual struggles, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, self-compassion, and religiosity in order to better describe a position of scrupulosity in the dimensions of mental health and illness. Two hundred and ninety-two religious individuals from Poland (two hundred and two women) between the ages of 18 and 83 (M = 39.3; SD = 13.7) participated in the study. We applied the Self-Compassion Scale, Religious and Spiritual Struggle Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, Pennsylvania Inventory of Scrupulosity, and posed questions concerning identification with religious beliefs, the role of religion in one’s identity, and religious attendance. Using correlation analysis and a network analysis, we demonstrated that scrupulosity was positively correlated with religious/spiritual struggles (mostly with moral struggles and religious doubts) and with obsessing as an OCD symptom. The bridge strength analysis indicated that scrupulosity may be regarded as a bridge symptom between religious/spiritual struggles and OCD symptoms. Pastoral and psychological counselling could use these results in order to design efficient treatments for people suffering from religious scruples.

Intertextual Links between Isaiah 59 and the Armour of God in Ephesians 6

Abstract Believers are told in Ephesians 6:11 to put on God’s armour. In Isaiah 59:17, God himself puts on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation to come and fight for his people, and these are among the qualities identified as missing in the indictment against God’s people in Isaiah 59:8–15. The article identifies other intertextual allusions to Isaiah in the other four items of armour, and explores the extent to which the other qualities represented by the pieces of equipment also draw on the description of the nation’s plight in Isaiah 59. An awareness of these intertextual allusions suggests that putting on God’s armour means enlisting in the spiritual struggle and going on the offensive by adopting a lifestyle marked by the qualities listed in Ephesians 6:14–17.

Spirituality/Religiosity of Sexual and Gender Minorities in Brazil: Assessment of Spiritual Resources and Religious Struggles

Stigma and discriminatory attitudes create hostile and stressful environments that impact the mental health of marginalized populations. In view of these stressful situations, empirical research was undertaken with the objective of assessing the spiritual/religious resources employed by sexual and gender minorities to manage such situations, identifying the presence of religious and spiritual struggles and the style of attachment to God. This is a cross-sectional quantitative exploratory-descriptive study. The applied instruments were a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Centrality of Religiosity Scale, the Brief SRCOPE Scale, the Religious and Spiritual Struggles (RSS) Scale, and the Attachment to God Inventory. In total, 308 people participated in the study. The sample was categorized as religious (M = 3.37, SD = 1.10), and the use of positive spiritual/religious coping strategies was considered medium (M = 2.83, SD = 1.18). They scored 2.10 on the RSS Scale (SD = 0.65), which is considered a modest level, and the predominant attachment style was avoidant. The results indicate that this group has specific stressors resulting from the minority status and that a small number of people use spiritual/religious resources to deal with stressful situations. Religious transit and, mainly, the process of religious deidentification seem to work as coping strategies to deal with struggles experienced in religious environments that are not welcoming of sexual and gender diversity. In these transition and migration processes, “religious residues” (i.e., previous modes of thinking and feeling persist following religious deidentification) may be present. Thus, identifying whether such residues are made up of beliefs that negatively affect the mental health of sexual and gender minorities is a process that needs to be looked at carefully by faith communities, health professionals, and spiritual caregivers.

Religion and Spirituality as Relevant Dimensions in Psychiatric Patients—From Research to Practice

Background: Associations between psychiatric syndromes and religion/spirituality (R/S) are confounded by a diversity of descriptive instruments, the interpretation of statistical correlations, and the highly individual experience of illness. Method: This presentation focuses on three major syndromes in psychiatric patients: (a) delusions with religious content, (b) depressive conditions, and (c) anxiety disorders. Results: The content of delusions is marked by cultural factors, including religious concepts. There is empirical evidence that R/S may have a supportive role in patients with schizophrenia. Affective disorders show a more varied pattern of causality—a better outcome in about 60%, but in 10%, there seems to be a higher incidence in patients with a conservative, guilt-oriented, religious background. In anxiety disorders, a meta-analysis could not find a correlation between R/S and clinical syndromes. However, research into the emerging field of “spiritual struggles” has shown an interaction between subjective anxieties and religious conflicts, strongly influenced by the level of neuroticism beyond religious factors. Conclusions: The correlation of R/S and dysfunctional psychological experience may be summarized in three concepts (culture, conflict, and coping), modulated by the neurobiological basis of psychiatric disorders.

PENDIDIKAN ISLAM DIERA REVOLUSI INDUSTRI 4.0

Islamic education has entered a new chapter in its long journey. Namely the era of digitalization and industrial acceleration that has penetrated in all aspects of life. Uniquely, Islamic education is a little too late to say that it has not at all made adjustments to the new style which prioritizes accelerated access, automation, connectivity and efficiency that is completely controlled with the internet system. Strong pressure is increasingly felt when the outside world is increasingly innovating in its latest findings, Islamic Education seeks to innovate and make significant changes. Islamic education in addition to being an obligation, is absolutely needed by every Muslim child for the sake of his existence. Especially when entering the era of globalization which is full of challenges. Islamic education which emphasizes aspects of spiritual intelligence has a format for maintaining, utilizing, and developing human nature in anticipating spiritual crises in the era of globalization.

От «Русского Манчестера» к «Красному Вердену»: Царицын и Гражданская война в России (1917–1920 гг.) (по материалам периодической печати)

Introduction. The history of Tsaritsyn as a frontier is a unique example of urbanization, the struggle for which was both ideological and strategic. Since the Russian Revolution of 1917, the city has been under pressure from the ideological systems of the “fiery revolutionaries” of 1917, the Bolsheviks and their opponents in 1917–1920. Methods. Using the accumulated historiographical material, based on the material of the local periodical press, practically not put into circulation, an attempt is made to reconstruct the life of Tsaritsyn in 1917–1920. Analysis. The analysis revealed a number of important problems. The central problem of the city was the food issue, which reached a crisis stage under the influence of public criticism of the government’s actions to introduce food appropriation (1916) and was not resolved until the end of the war. The crisis, aggravated by revolutionary actions, introduced the public into (2) a spiritual crisis, which manifested itself in the unwillingness of people to participate in the activities of self-government. Fuel, crime, epidemiological and budgetary problems led to the breakdown of the urban economy and the lack of combat capability of the military. The capture of the city by the Whites in 1919 only worsened the urban economy. The public was in crisis and quickly panicked at reports of the threat of a fall in volunteer power. The return of the city to the leadership of the Red Army and the creation of an independent province with its center in Tsaritsyn led to the gradual restoration of the city on the basis of an industrial base established in the 19th century. Results. Research into the history of Tsaritsyn during the transition years has shown that radical transformations and the inconsistent policy of successive regimes led to the deformation of urban structures, bringing them into a state of permanent crisis. Only the end of hostilities and the establishment of a stable state course of development can provide the potential for the functioning of the city within the state.

Missed Opportunities for Growth in the Posttraumatic Helping Environment: The Role of Spirituality

This paper focuses on social work’s understanding of how posttraumatic counselling may help or hinder recovery from trauma. A qualitative case study was conducted using an autobiographic memoir that provides an in-depth personal narrative of one woman’s experience of trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, the posttraumatic helping environment, and healing journey. Inductive thematic analysis uncovered themes that align with the existing literature. Novel or understudied aspects for consideration also emerged, including the importance of psychoeducation, behavioural activation, and secondary factors related to the posttraumatic environment that impede healing. The analysis highlighted missed opportunities to clinically address issues of identity and meaning in a spiritually sensitive manner. Although the narrator made it clear to helping professionals that she was struggling with religious beliefs and was in spiritual crisis, helping professionals seemed to eschew exploration of these concerns. Implications for clinical social work practice and future research are discussed.

Does the Tough Stuff Make Us Stronger? Spiritual Coping in Family Caregivers of Persons with Early-Stage Dementia

Spiritual coping may be conceptualized as relying upon spiritual beliefs, practices and/or relationships as an aspect of navigating stressful or traumatic experiences. There is evidence that spirituality may be used as a resource and may cultivate growth for some in the midst of difficult life circumstances. There is limited research, however, on this phenomenon among family caregivers of persons living with a dementia, particularly those in the early stages. The purpose of the current study, therefore, was to gain insight into the nature of spiritual coping among caregivers of persons living with a dementia in the early part of their caregiving journey. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, interviews with 28 caregivers were analyzed. Five spiritual coping themes and corresponding subthemes emerged from their narratives: (1) spiritual relational coping; (2) spiritual behavioral coping; (3) spiritual belief coping; (4) spiritual coping to gain a sense of control; and (5) spiritual coping for constancy or life transformation. Three-fourths of the sampled caregivers reported growth in their spiritual lives during the early part of their caregiving journey. A sense of being “spiritually grounded” in the Divine (e.g., God, a higher power, a life philosophy) and oneself (as a spiritual being) was an important aspect of spiritual coping in this sample. Additionally, caregivers tended to use multiple forms of spiritual coping simultaneously while also navigating spiritual struggles. Finally, some caregivers viewed caregiving as a spiritual path that they were actively following rather than a passive spiritual experience. These findings speak to the importance of identifying and encouraging spiritual coping among caregivers as well as identifying spiritual struggles.

When Faith Hurts: Clients' Experience of the Therapeutic Relationship and a Counselor's way of Being on the Resolution of Religious and Spiritual Struggles.

Unaddressed religious and spiritual struggles can lead to poor mental health, making identifying the pathways individuals take towards growth of great importance. This hermeneutical phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of individuals who sought counseling to address their religious and spiritual struggles, focusing on how the therapeutic relationship and the counselor's way of being influenced growth pathways, as these factors are most predictive of positive outcome. The researcher highlights key findings and elaborates on clinical implications.