Spirituality, Intolerance and Fear of COVID-19: Psychological Distress Among Older Adults in Pakistan
AbstractThe present study aimed to investigate the role of spirituality, intolerance of uncertainty (IU), and fear of COVID-19 as correlates and predictors of psychological distress among older adults in Pakistan and also assess the gender differences among research variables. Using a quantitative correlational survey research design, a sample of 150 (75 = Men, 75 = Women) older adults aged 55 years and above from different cities of Pakistan were approached through a non-probability purposive sampling strategy. Participants completed the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale IUS-12, Fear of CO...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 25, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
The University Chaplain: An Often Unrecognised Resource in Suicide Prevention —Initial Qualitative Results from Exploratory Research into the Roles of University Chaplains at One Australian University
AbstractUniversity chaplains are often unrecognised as resources in suicide prevention. This exploratory article highlights the valuable contributions university chaplains at one Australian university make to suicide prevention. Three overarching themes related to the contributions of university chaplains to suicide prevention were generated: (1) person-centred care; (2) the role of university chaplains in suicide prevention; and (3) professional development. Of particular note is that university chaplains actively contribute to all three phases of the suicide prevention framework: prevention, intervention, and postvention...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 23, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
Perception of Acceptance and Discrimination Among the LGBTQI + Community in their Churches and its Association with Spiritual Dryness: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in Germany
AbstractData from a cross-sectional survey with options for free text statements revealed that people who identify themselves as part of the LGBTQI+ community (n = 417) experienced both acceptance and discrimination by church members. Their negative experiences affected their relationship with God in terms of spiritual dryness and loss of faith. In regression analyses, the best predictors of life satisfaction and psychological well-being were self-accep tance and low spiritual dryness. This self-acceptance as a resource, mediated the link between spiritual dryness and life satisfaction. Nevertheless, 96% still wish for...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 22, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
Religious Identity Dissonance: Examining the Path of Religious Factors to Depression in Sexual Minority Men in the USA
AbstractLittle is known about the religious factors that contribute to religious identity dissonance (ID) for sexual minority men. Our aim was to model the path of religious factors to depression symptoms through ID and internalized stigma (IS). US sexual minority men (N = 168) participated in a survey about religious factors and mental health. Serial mediation of religious factors through ID and IS to depression symptoms was assessed using Hayes PROCESS macro. Results indicate that two religious factors significantly increase depression through ID and IS. Nega tive parental religious messages about LGBTQ people play...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 22, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
The Relationship between Religion, Spirituality, Psychological Well-Being, Psychological Resilience, Life Satisfaction of Medical Students in the Gaziantep, Turkey
AbstractReligion and spirituality have been associated with better psychological health. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between the psychological well-being, psychological resilience, life satisfaction and religion/spirituality. An online cross-sectional study was conducted at the Gaziantep University School of Medicine, Turkey. The data were collected by using Personal Information Form, Individual Religion Inventory (IRI), Psychological Wellbeing Scale (PWBS), Brief Psychological Resilience Scale (BPRS), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). A total of 399 students participated in the study, 84%...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 21, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
A State of Grace: Community, Self-Consciousness, and Faith in W.H. Auden ’s “The Age of Anxiety”
AbstractIn this essay, the author examines a highly influential poem,The Age of Anxiety by W.H. Auden, for its engagement with anxiety and religious faith in the modern world. Published in 1947, the book-length poem reveals Auden ’s deep understanding of western psychology, Judaism, and Christianity. The author argues for the relevance ofThe Age of Anxiety in this modern moment, but demonstrates that this relevance does not derive from any direct diagnostic or therapeutic implications of the poem. Rather, Auden ’s work provides readers with an image of a state of grace in the middle of an age of anxiety. (Source: Journ...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 15, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
A Permissible Sin: Perceptions of Smoking Among Haredi Men in Israel
AbstractThis essay deals with perceptions of smoking among Haredi men in Israel. Though trends in smoking within the Haredi society have been quantitively examined, no qualitative research has ever focused on the motivations and mindsets stimulating individuals ’ choices to take health risks despite religious precepts to the contrary. Israeli Haredi men sometimes start smoking in their early childhood and are unmotivated to quit, and such circumstances should be examined. We interviewed 20 Israeli Haredi male smokers and overviewed the Haredi daily press and rabbinical attitudes toward smoking. Our findings indicate that...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 15, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
The Effect of Spiritual Group Therapy on the Quality of Life and Empowerment of Women with Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial in Iran
AbstractThis randomized clinical trial was carried out on 74 women with breast cancer between May 2015 and April 2016 in the south of Iran. The patients were selected using a simple sampling method and randomly divided into an intervention (n = 30) and a control (n = 37) group. Five spiritual therapy sessions were conducted for the intervention group. Each session lasted one hour. The quality of life and empowerment of the patients were measured before and one month after the intervention. To collect data, four instruments were used, including a demographic information form, the European Organization for Research ...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 15, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
Understanding Suicide from an Indigenous Cultural Lens: Insights from Elders in Canada
In this study, Indigenous Elders in Canada were interviewed to explore their conceptualizations of death and dying, particularly in relation to suicide. Through reflexive thematic analysis, three key themes were developed: Indigenous conceptions of death and dying, Christian influences on views of suicide, and indirect suicide. The theme of Indigenous conceptualizations of death and dying included the subthemes of spirituality and life after death, highlighting the importance of spiritual beliefs in Indigenous culture and knowledge systems. The impact of Christian influences on views of suicide was also explored, with part...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 11, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
Equipping Faith-Based Communities for Cancer Support Ministry: A Pilot Study of Cancer Support Training for Members of African-American Churches in the USA
AbstractChurch –academic partnerships focused on cancer, generally target cancer screening and prevention, with few focusing explicitly on cancer survivors. With the population of cancer survivors steadily increasing, highlighting the value of faith-based cancer support ministry is paramount. However, many churc hes may not have the resources to integrate relevant cancer support ministry and may need to identify ways to reach cancer survivors. We piloted cancer support training to help church members to start a cancer support ministry with African-American churches in Milwaukee, WI. We sought to measure the feasibility o...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 7, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
Death Anxiety in Patients with a History of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Spiritual Well-Being and Coping Strategies
AbstractPatients who have previously undergone coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) were prone to death anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. It appears that spiritual well-being and appropriate coping strategies may mitigate the harmful effects of death anxiety. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of death anxiety in patients with CABG during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate the relationship between spiritual well-being, coping strategies and death anxiety.This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with CABG history in Tehran from June 2021 to February 2022. The face-to-face questionnair...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 2, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
Tribal Healing, Suicide, Ethical Issues, Cancer and Measuring Religiosity and Spirituality
AbstractThis issue ofJORH considers the ‘good, the bad and the ugly’ of tribal or traditional healers, as well as articles relating to ethical challenges due to contemporary medicine and environmental issues. The concluding series on suicide (Part 2) is also finalized in this issue, as well as a number of research articles from multip le countries relating to cancer. Similar to previous issues,JORH once again adds to its increasing collection of articles relating to the empirical measurement of religion, spirituality and health. Readers are also reminded of theEuropean Congress on Religion, Spirituality and Health (ECR...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - March 2, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
“I Would Consult a Doctor, But What the Rabbi Says Goes”: Ultra-Orthodox Jews’ Relationships with Rabbis and Doctors in Israel
AbstractWe examine relationships among ultra-Orthodox Israeli Jews, their doctors, and rabbis when medical decisions are made. Analyzing excerpts from sixteen focus groups with 128 ultra-Orthodox Jews, we determine how their belief system affects their decisions about whom to trust and follow when the doctor ’s instructions contradict the rabbi’s advice. We argue that the strict behaviors described here with regard to relations among doctors, rabbis, and patients, function as social capital that raises the status of ultra-Orthodox Jews as members of an exclusive club that balances health decisions with the social dema...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - February 29, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
A Brief Overview of the Islamic Ethics of Suicide and Suicide-Related Contemporary Issues from a Sunn ī Perspective: A Primer for Clinicians and Researchers
AbstractSuicide is a growing global health concern with complex socioeconomic implications. Understanding psychosocial resiliency factors may facilitate suicide prevention. Religious moral objections to suicide, including those inspired by the Islamic faith, appear to promote resilience to suicide. However, few English-language resources provide an overview of Islam ’s moral and ethical position on suicide, potentially hindering treatment of, and research on, suicide risk among Muslims. In the current paper, Islam’s unanimous prohibition of suicide is explored and contextualized within the religion’s foundational pri...
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - February 29, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
Happiness in Hospice Care in The Netherlands: A Case Study Design
This study suggests that happiness can be found in settings that are frequently associated with suffering. (Source: Journal of Religion and Health)
Source: Journal of Religion and Health - February 29, 2024 Category: Medical Ethics Source Type: research
