Top

Published in:

01-09-2007 | Original Paper

Connection, Action, and Hope: an Invitation to reclaim the “Spiritual” in Health Care

Author: Margaret Wills

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 3/2007

Abstract

The complex process of health has, until recently, been understood devoid of a spiritual component. The present article offers a model of health inclusive of spirituality with implications for the health communication field. Amending the assumptive non-relevance of spirituality to individual health, a growing body of scholarship in various disciplines recognizes the ways in which spirituality connects to overall wellness. As a whole, this literature equates spirituality with seeking, striving, and forward movement. Given the potential for health communication scholars to make significant contributions at the forefront of this research, this article proposes a dynamic model of health inclusive not only of the physical and mental, but of the spiritual as well. Recognizing its centrality to wellbeing, the model locates the spiritual self at the center. Specifically, the spiritual self is described as engaging action, hope, and connection to self, others, and/or the universe.

Anderson, C. (2004). The delivery of health care in faith-based organizations: Parish nurses as promoters of health. Health Communication, 16(1), 117–128.PubMedCrossRef

Arnold, R. M., Avants, S. K., Margolin, A., & Marcotte, D. (2002). Patient attitudes concerning the inclusion of spirituality into addiction treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 23, 319–327.PubMedCrossRef

Aveling, L., Grant, V., Lee, S., Sirajjakool, S.,Vendon, L., Gates, J., & Fox, C. (2003). Correlations between spirituality and compliance in individuals with diabetes: Abstract from the 63rd Scientific Sessions. Diabetes, 52, A569.

Bessinger, D., & Kuhne, T. (2002). Medical spirituality: Defining domains and boundaries. Southern Medical Journal, 95, 1385–1426.PubMed

Braswell, M. E., & Wong, H. D. (1994). Perceptions of rehabilitation counselors regarding Native American healing practices. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 60, 33–38.

Brome, D. R., Owens, M. D., Allen, K., & Vivaina, T. (2000). An examination of spirituality among African American women in recovery. Journal of Black Psychology, 26, 470–487.CrossRef

Corrigan, P., McCorkle, B., Schnell, B., & Kidder, K. (2003). Religion and spirituality in the lives of people with serious mental illness. Community Mental Health Journal, 39, 487–499.PubMedCrossRef

Daaleman, T., Cobb, A. K., & Frey, B. (2001). Spirituality and well being: An exploratory study of the patient perspective. Social Science and Medicine, 53, 1503–1511.PubMedCrossRef

Doswell, W. M., Kouyate, M., & Taylor, J. (2003). The role of spirituality in preventing early sexual behavior. American Journal of Health Studies, 18, 195–203.

du Pré A. (2005). Communicating about health: Current issues and perspectives. (2nd ed.). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.

Eastland, L. S., Herndon, S. L., & Barr, J. (Eds.). (1999). Communication in recovery: Perspectives on twelve-step groups. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, Inc.

Eldemire-Shearer, D., & Morris, C. (2002). The family study: A useful gerontological tool. The Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 39, 241–261.CrossRef

Expectation of belief eases pain. (2004). Ivanhoe Newswire, http://www.wtnh.com/global/story.

Gehrke-White, D. (2004). Link between faith, health getting more attention. The Connecticut Post, pp. B1, B3.

Gonzalez, M. C. (1994). An invitation to leap from a trinitarian ontology in health communication research to a spiritually inclusive quatrain. In S. Deetz (Ed.), Communication yearbook 17 (pp. 378–387). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Harris, T., Parrott, R., & Dorgan, K. (2004). Talking about human genetics within religious frameworks. Health Communication, 16(1), 105–116.PubMedCrossRef

Heinrich, C. R. (2003). Enhancing the perceived health of HIV seropositive men. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 25, 367–383.PubMedCrossRef

Herndon, S. L., & Eastland, L. S. (1999). Introduction. In L. S. Eastland, S. L. Herndon, & J. Barr (Eds.), Communication in recovery: Perspectives on twelve-step groups (pp. 1–12). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, Inc.

Hufford, D. J. (2003). Evaluating complementary and alternative medicine: The limits of science and of scientists. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 31, 198–214.CrossRef

Kaiser, L. R. (2000). Spirituality and the physician executive. Physician Executive, 26, 6–14.PubMed

Kalb, C. (2003). Faith and healing. Newsweek, CXLII, 44–56.

Keeley, M. P. (2004). Final conversations: Survivors’ memorable messages concerning religious faith and spirituality. Health Communication, 16(1), 87–104.PubMedCrossRef

Lange, B. K. (1988). Ethnographic interview: An occupational therapy needs assessment tool for American Indian and Alaska Native alcoholics. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 8(2), 61–80.CrossRef

Larson, D. B., & Larson, S. B. (2003). Spirituality’s potential relevance to physical and emotional health: A brief review of quantitative research. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 31, 37–52.

Magura, S., Knight, E. L., Vogel, H. S., Mahmood, D., Laudet, A. B., & Rosenblum, A. (2003). Mediators of effectiveness in dual-focus self-help groups. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 29, 301–323.PubMedCrossRef

Maimes, S. (2002). Spirituality and healing in medicine. Healthcare Review, 15, 7.

McClain, C. S., Rosenfeld, B., & Breitbart, W. (2003). Effect of spiritual well-being on end-of-life despair in terminally-ill cancer patients. The Lancet, 361, 1603–1607.CrossRef

McGee, M., Nagel, L., & Moore, M. (2003). A study of university classroom strategies aimed at increasing spiritual health. College Student Journal, 37, 583–594.

Michal-Johnson, P. & Pileggi, M. (2001). In search of body/mind/spirit: Situating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for health communication. Paper presented at the meeting of the International Communication Association, Washington DC.

Mitroff, I., & Denton, E. A. (1999). A study of spirituality in the workplace. Sloan Management Review, 40(4), 83–92.

Office of the President of the United States. (2000). White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Executive Order 13147.

Pardini, D., Plante, T., Sherman, A., & Stump, J. (2000). Religious faith and spirituality in substance abuse recovery: Determining the mental health benefits. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 19(4), 347–354.PubMedCrossRef

Parrott, R. (Ed.) (2004a). Religious faith, spirituality, and health communication (Special Issue). Health Communication, 16(1), 1–130.

Parrott, R. (2004b). “Collective amnesia”: The absence of religious faith and spirituality in health communication research and practice. Health Communication, 16, 1–6.CrossRef

Piedmont, R. L. (2001). Spiritual transcendence and the scientific study of spirituality. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 67(1), 4–14.

Religion—Sending prayers: Does it help? (2002). Harvard Health Letter, 27, p. NA.

Robinson, J. D., & Nussbaum, J. F. (2004). Grounding research and medical education about religion in actual physician–patient interaction: Church attendance, social support, and older adults. Health Communication, 16(1), 63–86.PubMedCrossRef

Sass, J. S. (2000). Characterizing organizational spirituality: An organizational communication culture approach. Communication Studies, 51(3), 195–217.

Seeman, T. E., Dubin, L. F., & Seeman, M. (2003).Religiosity/spirituality and health: A critical review of the evidence for biological pathways. The American Psychologist, 58, 53–64.PubMedCrossRef

Sharts-Hopko, N. C. (2003). Spirituality and health care. In J. T. Catalano (Ed.), Nursing now: Today’s issues, tomorrow’s trends (2nd. ed., pp. 347–371). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.

Soweid, R. A. A., Khawaja, M., & Salem, M. T. (2004). Religious identity and smoking behavior among adolescents: Evidence from entering students at the American University of Beirut. Health Communication, 16(1), 47–62.CrossRef

Spirituality and health. (2001). American Family Physician, 63, 89.

Stephenson, G. W. (1983). Of Aesculapius and the medicine man: Some comments on the College seal. Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons, 68(10), 26–27.

Townsend, M., Kladder, V., Ayele, H., & Mulligan, T. (2002). Systematic review of clinical trials examining the effects of religion on health. Southern Medical Journal, 95, 1429–1435.PubMed

Udermann, B. (2000). The effect of spirituality on health and healing: A critical review for athletic trainers. Journal of Athletic Training, 35, 194.PubMed

Vernarec, E. (2002). Why do patients turn to CAM? (Complementary therapies update). RN, 65, 25.

Wager, T. D., Rilling, J. K., Smith, E. E., Sokolik, A., Casey, K. L., Davidson, R. J., et al. (2004). Placebo-induced changes in fMRI in the anticipation and experience of pain. Science, 303, 1162–1167.PubMedCrossRef

White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy (2002). Executive summary. Retrieved November 14, 2005, from http://www.whccamp.hhs.gov/es.html.

Wirth, D. (1995). The significance of belief and expectancy within the spiritual healing encounter. Social Science and Medicine, 41, 249–260.PubMedCrossRef

Zook E. G. (1994). Embodied health and constitutive communication: Toward an authentic conceptualization of health communication. In S. Deetz (Ed.), Communication yearbook 17 (pp. 374–377). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Title: Connection, Action, and Hope: an Invitation to reclaim the “Spiritual” in Health Care
Author: Margaret Wills
Publication date: 01-09-2007
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 3/2007
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-006-9106-x

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Connection, Action, and Hope: an Invitation to reclaim the “Spiritual” in Health Care

Abstract

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 3/2007

Editorial

Spirituality and Resilience in Trauma Victims

Forgiveness, Cognitive Restructuring and Object Transformation

John Prine’s Images of God and Male Melancholia: Terror, Forgiveness, and the Persistence of Desire

Mother, Melancholia, and Art in Erik H. Erikson’s Toys and Reasons

Reflections on the use of spirituality to privilege religion in scientific discourse: incorporating considerations of self