Spiritual Groups Research Articles

Intersections of Compassion, Science, and Spiritual Care in Global Health for Public Health Benefits.

Across the globe, spiritual care is offered by individuals, healthcare chaplains, and humanitarian, social and related spiritual groups on account of zeal, voluntary and paid services. Sometimes, services are provided without understanding the connectivity of compassion, spiritual care, and scientific protocols. There are instances where health professionals and managers disagree with spiritual caregivers or reject spiritual services because of poor service deliveries in conflict with healthcare protocols. Against this background, this article focuses on how spiritual care services can be provided scientifically to improve service delivery. It presents leading questions to link the scientific and compassionate approach to spiritual care. These include-What is science? What is compassion? What is spiritual care? What makes compassion and spiritual care scientific? Are there tenets of compassion in religions? How are compassion, science and spiritual care linked? What are the implications of the intersections for public health and safety? Hopefully, the provided answers may improve the service delivery performance of spiritual caregivers and their collaboration with healthcare professionals, social workers, and related groups.

The Effectiveness of Spiritual Group Therapy on Psychological Well-Being and Self-Efficacy of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Tehran in 2023

Introduction: Diabetes, as one of the common causes of mortality worldwide, extends beyond physical aspects and can impact psychological and emotional dimensions as well. Therefore, the present research aimed to determine the effectiveness of spiritual therapy on the psychological well-being and self-efficacy of patients with type 2 diabetes in Tehran. Methods: This study was a semi-experimental research with a pretest-posttest and a three-month follow-up design with a control group. The study population consisted of all the patients with type 2 diabetes who attended treatment centers in Tehran (Masih Daneshvari, Nikan, and the Iranian Diabetes Association) from August to November 2023. Among the patients, 37 were selected using purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (N=18) and the control group (N=19). The data collection tools included a demographic information form, the standardized Ryff's scale of psychological well-being– short form (Cronbach's alpha= 0/72), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Cronbach's alpha= 0/83). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-21 software. Additionally, given the different stages of measurement (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up), repeated measures ANOVA was used for data analysis. Results: The results indicated that spiritual therapy led to an increase in psychological well-being (F=132/56, P<0/001) and self-efficacy (F=15/51, P<0/001) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the effect size of spiritual therapy on psychological well-being was 79%, and self-efficacy was 31%, and the sustainability of its effects was observed up to three months after treatment. Conclusion: The findings suggest the impact of spiritual therapy on enhancing psychological well-being and self-efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is recommended that, in addition to the routine treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, spiritual therapy be utilized to enhance the psychological well-being of the patients.

Members’ Feedback After a Spiritual Group Psychotherapy for Inpatient, Residential, and Intensive Treatment (SPIRIT)

ABSTRACT Six hundred and fifty-four inpatients who participated in a spiritual group therapy intervention provided qualitative feedback regarding what helped them and what could be improved. Patients revealed that enjoying a sense of connection with other people and a sense of openness in the groups and simply talking about spirituality with other people was helpful to them. Many group members requested that groups go on for a longer amount of time than 12 sessions, to have longer sessions, and to have more frequent meetings. In addition, members described improvements that could be made to the group, including members’ being better screened, leaders preventing individual members from dominating discussions or from being quiet or leaving the group early, and members’ wanting more structure as well as more open discussion. The findings highlight the importance of connection, openness, and spirituality when implementing spiritual group interventions in hospital settings. Implications for future research, training, and clinical interventions are discussed.

ACTing Spiritually: Integrating Spiritual Care and Mental Health Care withina US Department of Veterans Affairs Inpatient Psychiatric Unit.

As a part of the VA's interprofessional fellowship in psychosocial rehabilitation, the authors developed an 8-week spirituality group manual, ACTing Spiritually, which incorporates principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) into a spirituality group protocol. The group, administered weekly as possible for 28weeks on an inpatient psychiatric unit at a veterans affairs (VA) medical center in West Haven, CT, aimed to incorporate veterans' spirituality into their mental health treatment through concepts of acceptance, values, mindfulness, and committed action. ACTing Spiritually ran in tandem with a basic ACT group and the two groups had comparable average group sizes, suggesting interest in ACTing Spiritually similarly compares to interest in a basic ACT group in this context. In addition, development of the group yielded several qualitative findings, including a discussion of the similarities and differences between ACT and spiritual care, clinical gains for chaplains conducting the group, and clinical tensions that arose through the process of integration. The study provided preliminary evidence of the potential feasibility and acceptability of ACTing Spiritually. Next steps should include a formal evaluation of its potential efficacy.

Dialectical thinking in contemporary spirituality: Reconciling contradictory beliefs through metamodern oscillations between two ways of thinking

Psychologists are paying increasing attention to a distinction between two ways of thinking. Cognitive psychologists discern between non-reflective “intuitive” and critical reflective “analytic” thinking. Cultural psychologists discern between context-focused “holistic” and object-focused “analytic” thinking. Both find the former strongly correlated with religious beliefs and Asian cultures, the latter with secular beliefs and Euro-American cultures. Yet, recent studies convincingly suggest: first, that analytic thinking does not just relate to secular beliefs but also to alternative beliefs that straddle the boundaries between secular and religious worldviews; second, that critical reflective thinking includes both the holistic context-focus of Asian religions and the analytic object-focus of European philosophies and sciences. This article supports these recent studies in the psychology of religion based on recent studies from the history and sociology of religion and a discourse analysis of interviews with members of a small-scale twenty-first-century spiritual group, as an example. We show that people who identify as spiritual in a metamodern context use both holistic and analytic thinking in creating alternative worldviews, which dialectically reconcile beliefs that many within modern western cultures would consider contradictory. We conclude that this both/and logic challenges theories and stereotypes about “secular versus religious” and “eastern versus western” thinking.

Spiritual affection and support: Unique aging model of older adult Chinese who lost their only child

This research aims to explore the mechanism of the online “spiritual solidarity” group for older adults who have lost their only child (shidu parents) in contemporary China. By examining a unique aging model of older adult Chinese who lost their only child, this study conducted an online survey in the “spiritual solidarity” group of the shidu parents through an ethnographic approach by interviews, questionnaires, participatory observation, and other methods. The findings can improve the “spiritually drawn together to old” process for the shidu parents to improve their quality of life and relieve their psychological stress. As a new pension model, the spiritual group takes a virtual information platform as the carrier to break through the limitations of regional activities, meet the various needs of the shidu parent, and provide them with an outlet for emotional energy. Understanding the mechanism of spiritual solidarity is of help to the shidu parents in obtaining spiritual comfort. It is also valuable for safeguarding their rights and interests to improve their quality of life on the spiritual and material levels.

Aksi Kewargaan Membela Hak Ekologi Warga Trenggalek: Analisis Ideologis, Lingkungan, dan Teologis

The background of this research aims to publish two reasons. First, to show a new perspective of common opinion about the social movement that is based on the class struggle. In this research, the environmental movement is run by the ecological ideology, spirituality, and theology motives. Second, the protests to reject the mining exploitation agenda are not to fight the state nor hinder the development agenda. However, these are the acts of citizenship as a part of participation in a democratic country. Based on the two points above, the research adapts two concepts those are the acts of citizenship from Engin Isin and humanistic Islam from Anna Gade. The data mining process uses ethnographic or observational participatory method that has done in the field of movement as become part of them. The discussion divides the actors of movement into three categories, two of them are Islamic-based organization and the left one is Javanese spiritual group. Each of them works on their own way to defend the ecological rights, but they all have the similar objectives of movement that is ecological sustainability. To develop the study of human rights movement in Indonesia, the approach of ethnography study needs to be deepened and doubled so that the local perspective about their own construction about rights could be mapped.

Appropriation as a perspective and topic in the study of religion and spirituality

Cultural appropriation is a timely topic that has been taking up a lot of space in public discussions. The concept is often applied in heated debates aimed at calling out’ different actors and actions as appropriation, or on the other hand to defend against such accusations. This thematic issue seeks to look at the topic from a broader and more nuanced perspective, asking what different expressions of appropriation appear in the field of and in relation to religion and spirituality. What discourses and discussions emerge around instances of religious and spiritual appropriation? And how is appropriation understood, negotiated or problematized within, across and around different religious and spiritual groups? The publication is part of the research project ‘Learning from Religion and Spirituality’ (Academy of Finland 2019-2023) [325148].

Perbandingan Sistem Ekonomi dan Ciri Utama Ekonomi Syari’ah

This research aims to provide in-depth knowledge about the fundamental differences between conventional economic systems and the characteristics of sharia economics. This research methodology is a literature review research which provides output to existing data. This research data has implications for the direction of society and the economy as a whole. Based on the conclusions of this research, the fundamental difference between conventional economics and Islamic economics lies in the view of rationality, economic goals, emphasis on needs, and consumer and producer orientation. In Islamic economics, it is important to achieve holistic balance in the material and spiritual groups to obtain prosperity on earth and in the afterlife

‘Time Is Against Us’: Anti-Communism, Decolonisation, and Papua New Guinean Independence

This article traces the importance of anti-communist organisations to the development of early Papua New Guinean political elites. Focusing on Oala Oala-Rarua (1934–80), it shows how his participation in activities organised by the spiritual group Moral Re-Armament and the Australian Association for Cultural Freedom provided avenues and platforms through which to articulate an increasingly nationalist politics. Both groups feared that radical nationalism in the Australian-administered Territory would serve communist purposes, and as such sought to cultivate a liberal political leadership. Following work on non-communist forms of anti-colonial worldmaking, this article shows how Oala-Rarua and his contemporaries saw much of value in the ideas on display and the connections they facilitated. While initially accepting of Australian tutelage, this article shows that, over time, emerging nationalist elites found the realities of slow progress and ongoing racial discrimination in the Territory to be at odds with even the most conservative post-colonial schema.

Effectiveness of an MPPI: Gratitude-Based Spiritual Group Guidance Program (GSGGP)

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the Gratitude-Based Spiritual Group Guidance Program (GSGGP), a spiritually oriented group guidance process, on gratitude expression, intrinsic spirituality, and sense of meaning and peace. Using a pre-test-post-test control group design among quasi-experimental designs, the study examined an experimental group that received GSGGP and a control group that did not receive any interventions. The experimental group consisted of 44 university students (5 male, 39 female), with participants’ ages ranging from 18 to 30 (X = 21.55 ± 2.16). The study findings revealed subtle differences in post-test gratitude expression scores between the groups, suggesting a potential impact of the intervention. Intra-group analysis within the experimental group showed statistically significant increases in gratitude expression and intrinsic spiritual experiences. Moreover, the experimental group exhibited enhancements in dimensions of spiritual well-being, including peace-related experiences and the perception of meaning. Overall, the GSGGP demonstrates potential to influence various dimensions of gratitude expression, internal spirituality, and spiritual well-being, offering insights into its multifaceted impact and role in personal growth.

Effectiveness of an MPPI: Gratitude-Based Spiritual Group Guidance Program (GSGGP)

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the Gratitude-Based Spiritual Group Guidance Program (GSGGP), a spiritually oriented group guidance process, on gratitude expression, intrinsic spirituality, and sense of meaning and peace. Using a pre-test-post-test control group design among quasi-experimental designs, the study examined an experimental group that received GSGGP and a control group that did not receive any interventions. The experimental group consisted of 44 university students (5 male, 39 female), with participants’ ages ranging from 18 to 30 (X = 21.55 ± 2.16). The study findings revealed subtle differences in post-test gratitude expression scores between the groups, suggesting a potential impact of the intervention. Intra-group analysis within the experimental group showed statistically significant increases in gratitude expression and intrinsic spiritual experiences. Moreover, the experimental group exhibited enhancements in dimensions of spiritual well-being, including peace-related experiences and the perception of meaning. Overall, the GSGGP demonstrates potential to influence various dimensions of gratitude expression, internal spirituality, and spiritual well-being, offering insights into its multifaceted impact and role in personal growth.

Faith-Based Spiritual Intervention for Persons with Depression: Preliminary Evidence from a Pilot Study.

Depression is a common, depleting, and potentially life-threatening disorder. This pilot study examined the feasibility and applicability, reported preliminary evidence for effectiveness, and explored the potential healing mechanisms of a faith-based spiritual intervention for people with depression. The intervention consisted of six weekly sessions focused on restoring a connection with the divine, forgiveness and freedom, suffering and transcendence, hope, gratitude, and relapse prevention. Seven adults with mild or moderate depressive symptoms were recruited. A qualitative evaluation was conducted via focus group discussions, and rating scales were administered at baseline, after the intervention, and at the 3-month follow-up. The mean difference scores of the treatment's effect over time were analyzed using Friedman's ANOVA. The themes identified by the focus group included the meaning of the spiritual intervention, the effect of involvement in a spiritual group, and the therapeutic components. The results indicated a significant decrease in the mean scores for depression (PHQ-9) after intervention and at the 3-month follow-up. Participants expressed their improvement in terms of increased knowledge about depression, enhanced coping mechanisms, and improved self-esteem. The preliminary evidence suggested that the faith-based spiritual intervention was effective in reducing depressive symptoms and also helped participants develop a greater sense of connection with themselves, others, and their environment.

Politik Kewargaan: Melacak Perjuangan Kelompok Penghayat Kerohanian di Kota Malang dalam Mendapatkan Hak sebagai Warga Negara

This research aims to explain how spiritual groups in Malang City struggle to obtain their rights as citizens. This research is important to carry out as a benchmark for the obligations that the government should give in the form of rights as citizens to marginalized groups, in this case spiritual believers in Malang City, Malang City. By borrowing the theoretical framework of citizenship politics from Kristian Stokke, which divides citizenship into four dimensions, namely citizenship as legal status, citizenship as rights, citizenship as membership, and citizenship as participation. This research uses descriptive qualitative methods by collecting data through literature study, document study, interviews and observation. The results of this research show that spiritual groups in Malang City have made various efforts as a form of struggle to obtain various rights, namely membership rights, legal status as an organization or community, civil rights, social rights, political rights and participation rights. The findings of this study show that groups of religious believers in Malang City have proven to be very proactive and take initiative towards government institutions in various fields such as administration, education and the social sphere.

Spiritual Needs of Older Adults Living with Dementia: An Integrative Review.

Older adults living with dementia experience progressive decline, prompting reliance on others for spiritual care and support. Despite a growing interest in studying persons living with dementia (PLwDs), empirical evidence on the spiritual needs of PLwDs has not been synthesized. Using the Whittemore and Knafl method, this integrative review examined the literature from 2000 to 2022 on the spiritual care needs of PLwDs. We sought to identify characteristics of the spiritual needs of PLwDs and ways to address them. The ATLA Religion, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Socindex databases were used to search the literature, and 12 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria. Spiritual care needs varied across studies. Overall, findings support the importance of identifying PLwDs' religious and spiritual backgrounds to inform person-centered care. Spiritual needs were identified as verbal and non-verbal expressions related to past meaning and religious and spiritual background and were not consistently addressed in care. Providers reported observing spiritual distress in the mild stage prompting the need for spiritual care. There is a great need for dementia-specific spiritual assessment tools and spiritual care interventions to support spiritual well-being in dementia care. Spiritual care involves facilitating religious rituals and providing spiritual group therapy and religious and spiritual activities.

Program to Enhance Well-being and Psychospiritual Understanding Implications in Indian Medical Care Perspective.

Spirituality is an important dimension of life. The medical practitioner's well-being is an under-appreciated priority in India. As research on spirituality is minimal, this study attempts to introduce an online 6-week Eastern spirituality-based educational program for physicians. The primary aim was to see the effects of the intervention on the well-being of the participants. The secondary aim was to form an opinion about an extension to medical practice. A total of 60 medical practitioners were randomized into two groups- one attended the spirituality sessions while the other placebo "self-care" sessions. Quantitative outcome measures were Warwick-Edinburg Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) and World Health Organization (WHO) Well-being Index (WHO-5) noted pre and postprogram. Qualitative data was collected to support the quantitative outcomes. Statistical tests used were unpaired and paired t-tests for quantitative data. A 5-point Likert scale and Cochran's Q test were used for the qualitative data. In the spirituality group, postsession WEMWBS and WHO-5 scores improved with p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0033, respectively. Regarding qualitative data, 94.44% of physicians "agreed/strongly agreed" in favor of the benefits of sessions with p = 0.0242 and Q = 5.0793. A total of 86.67% of physicians felt the sessions have helped them to understand other's spirituality-related problems and made them more confident to discuss spirituality with others. The online Eastern spirituality program had a positive impact on the well-being of Indian medical practitioners. There appears to be a potential for extension to the medical care setting. The results need to be substantiated by further studies.

USE OF TABOO AND EUPHEMISMS IN THE LANGUAGE OF UZBEK CINEMA FILMS OF THE INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

In the article, the normative and non-normative cases of taboos and euphemisms found in the language of Uzbek films of the period of independence are studied from an orthologous aspect. The concepts of taboo and euphemism are explained and researches related to these concepts are listed. Euphemisms found in the language of movies are selected and divided into spiritual groups, and the role and importance of taboos and euphemisms in the language of movies is revealed.

WOMEN AND RURAL SUFISM MOVEMENTS: PORTRAIT OF THE FEMALE YASSIN PILGRIMS “AL-HIDAYAH” BANGUNREJO KIDUL VILLAGE

<p>Religious traditions in rural areas, one of which is yassinan became a medium for women's religious expression through spiritual groups such as the female yassin pilgrims “Al-Hidayah.” How yassin putri “AlHidayah” of Bangunrejo Kidul community in developing personal spirituality and humanity. Descriptive qualitative research methods, using a sociology of religion approach, and data analysis through interactive analysis models include data reduction, data submission, and drawing conclusions. The yassinan tradition is a tradition that has been passed down for generations in the community of Bangunrejo Kidul Kedunggalar Ngawi Village. This tradition has the benefit of two values, namely: first, the religious value in the form of habl min Allah as a religious expression to train and accustom the pilgrims of yassin putri and the community to read kalimah ţayyibah, dhikr, prayer, shalawat, and chant quranic verses intended to get ridho Allah Swt. This tradition is carried out every Thursday in addition to praying for the dead, it also provides spiritual comfort, tranquility, coolness of heart, and increased faith of the community. Second, social values in the form of habl min nas strengthen social ties, strengthen the ropes of silaturrahmi, ngraketake taline kekadangan to realize ukhuwah Islamiyah, ukhuwah wathoniyah, and ukhuwah insaniyah. The existence of an emotional bond of "yassin pilgrims " is able to foster a sense of brotherhood, social interaction, and unity of Muslims in the community of Bangunrejo Kidul Village.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong> : Rural Sufism, the Female Yassin Pilgrims, Al-Hidayah, Social Piety</p>

Spiritual Group Counseling: An Overview of the Gestalt Approach in Handling Imitation Behavior

Negative-imitation behavior follows a behavior that they feel is acceptable, and it becomes a common thing for students to imitate and sometimes becomes a habit. Also, the habits learned from their parents, and the environment makes them a person who follows the climate as they are around. Without realizing it, negative imitation will have a negative impact, sometimes even contrary to existing norms. With that, the Gestalt Spiritual group counseling service is expected to understand and realize that the behavior they imitate is wrong. The research method used is a pre-experiment that will be used to determine whether there is any influence in gestalt spiritual group counseling. The research sample consisted of sixteen people who were divided into two groups of guidance. The research results obtained after the experiment was carried out, namely that there were changes for students' better. The SPSS analysis carried out showed a decrease in negative-imitation behavior in students

The Effectiveness of Spiritual Group Therapy on Resilience in Mothers of Children with Learning Disabilities

The Effectiveness of Spiritual Group Therapy on Resilience in Mothers of Children with Learning Disabilities