Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This qualitative study examined fatalistic beliefs and cancer causal attributions among people without cancer. Participants were 30 Israeli women and men aged 51–70 from diverse sociocultural backgrounds who participated in four focus groups. Three main themes emerged, referring to the variability in fatalistic beliefs of cancer occurrence and cancer outcome, the duality in attributing causality to divine providence and mere luck or chance, and the connection between distinct fatalistic beliefs and health behaviors. Data analysis enabled an expansion of the understanding of cancer fatalism as a multidimensional structure, whereby interactions between causality attribution and different fatalistic beliefs are related to prevention and screening behaviors. PubDate: 2023-02-04
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract The aim of this study was to explore Australian chaplains’ views of spirituality. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 16 participants. Participants relied heavily on metaphors and analogies to describe spirituality. Four inter-related themes were identified through reflexive thematic analysis: (1) The core of spirituality: spirituality as a source of meaning or belief which leads to connectedness with something greater than oneself; (2) A function of spirituality: spirituality empowers people to cope in a crisis, by providing motivation, hope and comfort; (3) The experience of spiritual crisis: admission to hospital or residential care can lead to existential struggle; and (4) The spiritual practice: of holding space between struggle and growth. Greater understanding of the theoretical basis of their work may allow chaplains to offer more in the therapeutic space. PubDate: 2023-02-04
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This article addresses cases of remarkable recoveries related to healing after prayer. We sought to investigate how people who experienced remarkable recoveries re-construct and give meaning to these experiences, and examine the role that epistemic frameworks available to them, play in this process. Basing ourselves on horizontal epistemology and using grounded theory, we conducted this qualitative empirical research in the Netherlands in 2016–2021. It draws on 14 in-depth interviews. These 14 cases were selected from a group of 27 cases, which were evaluated by a medical assessment team at the Amsterdam University Medical Centre. Each of the participants had experienced a remarkable recovery during or after prayer. The analysis of the interviews, which is based on the grounded theory approach, resulted in three overarching themes, placing possible explanations of the recoveries within (1) the medical discourse, (2) biographical discourse, and (3) a discourse of spiritual and religious transformation. Juxtaposition of these explanatory frameworks provides a way to understand better the transformative experience that underlies remarkable recoveries. Uncertainty regarding an explanation is a component of knowing and can facilitate a dialogue between various domains of knowledge. PubDate: 2023-02-04
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract The degree of religiosity, a culturally relevant concept, has been associated with obsessive phenomena such as obsessional symptoms, the nature of unwanted intrusive thoughts, and responses to intrusive thoughts. Although previous research reported that repugnant (i.e., sexual and religious) intrusions had the lowest endorsement rates, these were also the most difficult to control and more likely to turn into obsessions. Highly religious individuals are more likely to be distressed by repugnant intrusions as the repugnant nature of intrusive thoughts critically threatens the perceived self. Thus, individuals with high religiosity may be more likely to respond to repugnant intrusions with dysfunctional strategies and thus become more vulnerable to OCD. This study presents the endorsement rates and qualitative features of sexual and religious intrusions among highly religious Canadian and Turkish samples. Highly religious participants were interviewed using the International Intrusive Thoughts Interview Schedule (IITIS). Thematic content analysis of the IITIS data was conducted with MAXQDA. Sexual intrusion themes of Forceful Sex, Gay Sex, Immoral Sex, and Sex with Undesirable People were identified in both samples. Religious intrusion themes of Questioning, How They Are Perceived by God, Violating Religious Doctrines, Punishment by God, and Worship also emerged in both samples. The percentages of these themes suggested the presence of cross-cultural qualitative similarities and differences. PubDate: 2023-02-03
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract The objective of the article is to examine and analyze the correlation between the spirituality of Polish students and their use of psychoactive substances. The main research problem has been formulated as follows: What is the relationship between students’ spirituality and their use of selected psychoactive substances' The empirical research used the diagnostics survey method with the questionnaire technique and ASP (Aspects of Spirituality) scales. The study was carried out from November 2021 to December of the same year. The participants included 1348 Polish students from Krakow academies and universities. Based on the results of statistical tests, the hypothesis on the correlation between the students’ spirituality and their use of selected psychoactive substances was verified and accepted. Students with higher levels of spirituality (the protective factor) use psychoactive substances less frequently and in smaller quantities. Therefore, it was concluded that spirituality is a protective factor in young peoples’ lives. Some implications for student education are noted. PubDate: 2023-02-03
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This research aims to describe the perspectives of health care professionals, patients, and family members regarding spiritual care options in intensive care units (ICUs). Participants were recruited consecutively from January to August 2019, during which time data collection was conducted. A total of 1211 Spanish-language questionnaires were collected from 41 ICUs in Spain and Latin America. Approximately 655 participants worked as ICU professionals (74.5% of these participants were women, and 47.5% were nurses). Additionally, 340 questionnaires were sent to patients' families, and patients completed 216 questionnaires; 59.7% of these participants were men, and their mean age was 59.4 years. Most (69.7%) of the critical care professionals considered this type of care to be a part of their profession, 50.1% did not feel competent to provide this type of care, and 83.4% felt that training in this area was necessary. Most families (71.7%) and patients (60.2%) felt that spiritual suffering occurred during their stay in the ICU. The results of this study suggest a perceived deficit in spiritual care in ICUs. PubDate: 2023-02-02
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This study was conducted to determine the compassion fatigue level of nurses and to review several variables believed to be associated with it; in addition, an assessment is made of empathy levels in the same group. This is a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2021 to May 2022 on nurses working at a city hospital linked to the Turkish Ministry of Health. The study group consisted of 616 nurses. A Personal Information Form, the Compassion Fatigue-Short Scale (CF-SS), and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy were used to collect data. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Student’s t-test, One-Way Analysis of Variance, and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis were used for data analysis. The statistical significance value was accepted as p < 0.05. The study group consisted of 499 (81.0%) females and 117 (19.0%) males, and their ages ranged from 20 to 51, with a mean age of 29.2 ± 6.9 years. The scores obtained from the CF-SS ranged from 16 to 130, with a mean score of 70.96 ± 25.04. The level of compassion fatigue was found to be higher in participants with a low family income, those who work more than 40 h a week, those who chose their profession unwillingly, those who are not satisfied with their profession, and those with a history of contact with a COVID-19 patient (p < 0.05 for each group). There was a significant association between levels of compassion fatigue and empathy (r = 0.92; p = 0.220). The level of compassion fatigue was found to be moderate in the nurses observed. The factors affecting the level of compassion fatigue included gender, family income, reasons for choosing nursing as a profession, the number of patients given daily care by the nurses, satisfaction with their profession, and history of contact with a COVID-19 patient. More extensive studies focusing on the association between compassion fatigue and empathy in nurses are needed. PubDate: 2023-01-31
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Ultra-Orthodox society in Israel is characterized by a higher birth rate than Israeli Jewish society. This study investigated the association of reproductive experiences among different sects of 254 ultra-Orthodox women with symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) and general depression, controlling for demographic features. PPD symptoms were found among 22% of the participants, with Sephardic women with higher rates of symptoms (34%) than women from the Lithuanian sect (16%) and Hasidic women (14%), and those who were formerly secular also had higher rates of PPD (33%) compared to 19% among those born ultra-Orthodox. Implications for health care practitioners are discussed. PubDate: 2023-01-30
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed our lives, whether that be for ordinary citizens or those occupying higher social status. The experience of sickness and suffering however, can give meaning and can pose a challenge to our religious beliefs and practices. This article explores in depth the experience of battling COVID-19 by selected Filipino celebrities who are a significant part of the Filipino culture and are admired by the general public. This article draws inspiration from their narratives about how they faced, struggled, and recovered from the dreaded COVID-19 disease. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the transcripts of their interview revealled three major themes: total dependence on the Divine, therapeutic social support, and sickness as purposeful and transformative. These themes may contribute to future research in the discussion of how valuable are the life lessons during such a crisis, most especially from popular personalities who are considered “models” by the public. PubDate: 2023-01-30
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Ramadan, a one-month period in which eating and drinking are prohibited from sunrise to sunset, is considered sacred by Muslims. According to Islamic rules, fasting is obligatory for adults and healthy people, but patients and travelers are exempted from this rule. It is not clear whether pregnant women can fast during Ramadan. This cross-sectional case–control study included low-risk pregnant women at 32–37 weeks of gestation in Turkey. We examined healthy women in the last period of their pregnancy and found similar perinatal outcomes between the fasting and nonfasting participants. In the evaluation of fetal well-being, a decrease in the number of accelerations in the non-stress test (NST) and the need to repeat the test were found to be statistically significantly higher in fasting pregnant women. We consider that this may prolong the evaluation period and increase unnecessary hospitalizations due to nonreactive NST results. More randomized controlled trials are needed to conclude that fasting during pregnancy is safe. PubDate: 2023-01-23
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract In Iran, spirituality is one of the most critical factors affecting veterans' health. The present study aimed to determine the mediating role of ego resilience in the relationship between spirituality and trait gratitude with post-traumatic growth in Iranian veterans with PTSD. In the present descriptive and correlational study, 300 veterans with PTSD were hospitalized and treated at Isar Psychiatric Hospital in Ardabil in 2021 and were selected as the sample. Data were collected using Tedeschi and Calhoun's Traumatic Developmental Questionnaire, Parsian and Dunning, Mc Cullough et al.'s Trait Gratitude Questionnaire, and Block et al.'s Ego Resilience Questionnaire. Based on the obtained results and various fit indices, the direct and indirect relationships between spirituality, trait gratitude, ego resilience, and post-traumatic growth in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder were confirmed (p < 0.01). Also, spirituality and trait gratitude through ego resilience indirectly affected the post-traumatic growth of veterans with PTSD (P < 0.05). Thus, targeting these three components through psychological therapies may effectively increase post-traumatic growth in veterans experiencing trauma. PubDate: 2023-01-20
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This study examined how African American church members communicated and cooperated as dyads to attain health goals. Participants completed nine weeks of group classes then worked as dyads for nine weeks. Communication logs and interviews were used to assess: (1) dyad communication and (2) dyad cooperation. Thirty-two dyads from three churches completed the study. Dyads communicated an average of two times per week. Dyads experienced challenges and provided encouragement. Findings indicate African American church members cooperate and communicate as family, friend, and acquaintance dyads to achieve health goals. PubDate: 2023-01-20
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This first issue of JORH for 2023 considers (1) the ministry of chaplains, (2) Judaism, (3) the people of war-torn Ukraine, (4) the ongoing saga of COVID-19 and, on a happier note, (5) we celebrate a belated jubilee by presenting a bibliometric analysis of the Journal of Religion and Health (1961–2021). To conclude this issue, a book review is presented, “The Desperate Hours” by award winning journalist Marie Brenner, focusing on one hospital’s fight to save New York City during COVID-19. A reminder is also provided to readers on the call for papers regarding a future issue on religion, spirituality, suicide and its prevention. PubDate: 2023-01-19
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract All religions should develop convincing responses to emerging bioethical problems stemming from medical and technological advancements. Additionally, believers need to know their faiths’ interpretations of bioethical issues to be able to make medical decisions in line with their religious values. Therefore, Islamic bioethics should provide Muslims with conclusive and credible answers regarding newly rising problems in health care by revisiting the religious norms and decrees. However, the diversity in the Islamic denominations, the traditionalist aspect of the Sunni jurisprudence demanding strict compliance with the scriptural texts, the lack of unanimously accepted authority, and the limited number of academic works in Islamic bioethics (at least in English) complicate exploring new standards or rules for new ethical matters. In this view, the present paper aims to delineate two primary Islamic theological schools and propose al-Ghazali’s maslaha as a general framework to analyze bioethical issues in the Sunni tradition. Maslaha allows exercising discretion in light of the protection of five fundamental values: religion, life, reason, lineage, and property. Maslaha has the potential to enable Sunni Muslims to appraise contemporary ethical questions, concerns, and dilemmas through an Islamic view and make more autonomous decisions by having religious guidelines. PubDate: 2023-01-17
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the health behaviours of diocesan priests in Poland and their level of life satisfaction. The specific goal was to determine the factors that most affect their quality of health (internal health control, the influence of others or coincidence) and life satisfaction (positive mental attitude, preventive behaviour, eating habits, health practices). The study involved 250 diocesan priests from the Podkarpackie region who took part in the research by completing an anonymous questionnaire. The questions were mainly based on tools for assessing health behaviours, namely the HBI—health behaviour inventory, MHLC—multidimensional scale of health locus of control and the SWLS—satisfaction with life scale. The general index of health behaviour of clergymen on the HBI scale was 77.12 ± 16.20 (Me = 78), showing a moderate level on the sten scale. On the MHLC health locus of control scale, the respondents believed that their health depended most on internal control: 25.27 ± 5.10 and the influence of others: 23.13 ± 5.57, are of utmost importance for their health. To a lesser extent they believed that health was dependent on chance: 17.60 ± 5.95. The SWLS satisfaction with life index was 22.51 ± 5.43 (Me = 23), also within the moderate range of the sten scale. The factors most closely related to the assessment of life satisfaction were positive mental attitudes and the overall HBI index. The health behaviours of priests measured by the HBI scale and the level of satisfaction with the life of SWLS clergymen are within a moderate range. On the MHLC scale, priests likewise believe that their health depends on themselves and then on others. They are clearly less likely to indicate accidental causes. PubDate: 2023-01-16
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This study examined the effects of the spiritual well-being levels of surgical nurses on care satisfaction in liver transplant recipients after transplantation. The sample in this cross-sectional study consisted of 69 surgical nurses working in the organ transplant centre of a research and training hospital in Turkey and 79 liver transplant recipients. The data of this study were collected between 1 August 2020 and 30 August 2021. The “Three-Factor Spiritual Well-being Scale” and the “Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale” were used for data collection. A statistically significant relationship was found between the spiritual well-being levels of the surgical nurses and the care satisfaction levels of the transplant recipients. Surgical nurses should be capable of treating patients holistically and be knowledgeable enough to support the mental health of patients. High levels of spiritual well-being in surgical nurses contribute to increased satisfaction with care among organ transplant recipients. PubDate: 2023-01-16
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This paper advocates for a renewed focus into the experiential domain of religious and spiritual expression in research on physical and mental health. Most studies, up to now, have investigated risk or protection associated with behavioral measures of religiousness, whether public behaviors such as religious attendance or private behaviors such as personal prayer. Religious attitudes, beliefs, and identity have been studied, as well, as have religious self-rating scales of various types, but, relatively less emphasized have been subjective experiences, such as feelings of transcendence or unitive connection with the divine. There is good reason to believe that such experiences may impact on well-being, based both on previous studies and on theory and clinical observation. This paper suggests that although researching the domain of such seemingly ineffable experiences may present certain conceptual and methodological challenges, these would be worth facing in order to gain deeper insight into the human spiritual dimension and into connections among body, mind, and spirit. PubDate: 2023-01-14
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This paper begins with an overview of the governing principles of psychology as a discipline, and outlines the key paradigm shifts that potentially aligned with concepts of spirituality from the early twentieth century to contemporary theory. The discussion then moves to consider how research methods in psychology can contribute to understanding how spirituality is measured and described. We consider the contribution of validated surveys, and how qualitative methods can access the lived experience of spiritual phenomena. More specifically, the psychological constructs of "Flow" and properties associated with psychological capital are posited in relation to characteristics that define a spiritual experience. Finally, we draw attention to how exploration how spirituality of individuals may be addressed, and the scope for including spiritual appreciation in competencies required in psychological practice. PubDate: 2023-01-11
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand is currently undergoing major reform. A document review of spiritual care policies of (former) District Health Boards (DHBs) obtained via the Official Information Act 1982 was undertaken in August 2022. Dalglish, Khalid and McMahon’s (2020) READ process was used for analysis. Eight of twenty DHBs reported that they had no spiritual care policy. While there is commonality in terms of pastoral interventions provided, there is variation in how chaplains are expected to practice. Spiritual care policy needs to be refreshed and standardised to allow chaplains to better meet the diverse needs of patients receiving care in Aotearoa New Zealand hospitals. PubDate: 2023-01-09
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This rejoinder refers to the research of Otaiku (J Religion Health 1–17, 2022), which concluded that low religiosity in adulthood is associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Although Otaiku points to a number of limitations of their own research and thus clearly qualifies that further work is needed to verify the findings, a number of concerns still need to be raised about this research. Five points are highlighted in this article, namely (1) it is not clear why and how the variables of religiosity and spirituality were combined; (2) it is not reported whether other variables were tested; (3) they refer to the four different groups of how religiosity plays a role, which include extremely small samples of 11, 16, 25, 22 participants, (4) the final conclusion is based only on the two extreme groups with Parkinson's disease, (5) it remains unclear whether all patients had Parkinson's disease. Consequently, we are of opinion that Otaiku's findings and conclusions are questionable, but agree that future studies are warranted that require state-of-the-art research. [Note: A detailed response to this rejoinder has been provided in a subsequent commentary; Koenig (Journal Religion Health 62, 2023)]. PubDate: 2023-01-06
Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
[2467 journals]
