1. © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Spirituality and Stress Chapter 8

2. Chapter Overview Spiritual health Spiritual health Religion and spirituality Religion and spirituality Spirituality and health Spirituality and health How spirituality and religion affect health How spirituality and religion affect health Forgiveness and health Forgiveness and health Volunteerism as a spiritual and healthy activity Volunteerism as a spiritual and healthy activity © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

3. Definitions of Spiritual Health Adherence to a religious doctrine Adherence to a religious doctrine Ability to discover and express one’s purpose in life Ability to discover and express one’s purpose in life Ability to experience love, joy, peace, and fulfillment Ability to experience love, joy, peace, and fulfillment Ability to help yourself and others achieve full potential Ability to help yourself and others achieve full potential © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

4. Spiritual Health According to Dean Ornish (1992), the basic cause of heart disease is a lack of emotional and spiritual health According to Dean Ornish (1992), the basic cause of heart disease is a lack of emotional and spiritual health Kabat-Zinn (1992) recognized the importance of spiritual health in reducing stress and improving general health Kabat-Zinn (1992) recognized the importance of spiritual health in reducing stress and improving general health Spiritual health may include answers to “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” Spiritual health may include answers to “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” Focusing on spiritual health can reduce stress and increase satisfaction with your life Focusing on spiritual health can reduce stress and increase satisfaction with your life © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

5. Religion and Spirituality Both affect health Both affect health They have similarities and differences They have similarities and differences Spirituality Spirituality –Orientation to the transcendent features of life Religion Religion –Organized entity with basic beliefs and practices © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

6. Spirituality and Health Some researchers have shown evidence that prayer can improve health Some researchers have shown evidence that prayer can improve health Living a spiritual life correlates with healthy behaviors in general Living a spiritual life correlates with healthy behaviors in general Prayer is the most common form of complementary and alternative medicine Prayer is the most common form of complementary and alternative medicine Businesses have begun to recognize the role of spirituality in the health of employees Businesses have begun to recognize the role of spirituality in the health of employees © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

7. Did You Know? In the Mall of America in Minneapolis, there is a 400 square-foot basement room that employees can use for a break from work In the Mall of America in Minneapolis, there is a 400 square-foot basement room that employees can use for a break from work The room contains foot-washing stalls, shelves for shoes, prayer rugs, a compass to locate the direction east, and a poster displaying 13 religions’ interpretations of the Golden Rule The room contains foot-washing stalls, shelves for shoes, prayer rugs, a compass to locate the direction east, and a poster displaying 13 religions’ interpretations of the Golden Rule © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

8. How Spirituality and Religion Affect Health Control theory: when someone feels a degree of control over a stressor, the person’s health is less affected by the stressor Control theory: when someone feels a degree of control over a stressor, the person’s health is less affected by the stressor Two different approaches Two different approaches –Primary control: attempts to change the situation (problem focused) –Secondary control: attempts to control oneself (emotion focused) Religion or spirituality can function as either primary or secondary control Religion or spirituality can function as either primary or secondary control © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

9. How Spirituality and Religion Affect Health (cont.) Pargament (1990) categorized religious approaches to control into the following types: Pargament (1990) categorized religious approaches to control into the following types: –Self-directing –Collaborative –Deferring –Pleading © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

10. How Spirituality and Religion Affect Health (cont.) Social support theory: a sense of affiliation with others who can assist with maintaining health and well-being Social support theory: a sense of affiliation with others who can assist with maintaining health and well-being Those affected by terrorism can benefit from spiritual support in various forms: Those affected by terrorism can benefit from spiritual support in various forms: –Emotional support –Financial support –Informational support –Advice support © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

11. How Spirituality and Religion Affect Health (cont.) Placebo theory: people who believe that something will help them often report that it does Placebo theory: people who believe that something will help them often report that it does –Researchers use double-blind technique to keep subjects from learning whether they are receiving the treatment –Some say the placebo effect is a valid reason for following a course of action © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

12. Other Spiritual Concepts that Affect Health Being unforgiving means harboring unhealthy anger Being unforgiving means harboring unhealthy anger Forgiving others is associated with better health Forgiving others is associated with better health © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

13. © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Other Spiritual Concepts that Affect Health (cont.) Volunteering is a spiritual activity with many benefits Volunteering is a spiritual activity with many benefits Service-learning projects give students a chance to volunteer by using their skills Service-learning projects give students a chance to volunteer by using their skills

14. Spirituality and Stress Management Resolving a crisis satisfactorily gives one a feeling of connection to the past and future, the chain of life Resolving a crisis satisfactorily gives one a feeling of connection to the past and future, the chain of life This helps one develop the feeling that life has a purpose This helps one develop the feeling that life has a purpose This feeling is invaluable during times of stress This feeling is invaluable during times of stress © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

15. Spirituality and Stress Management (cont.) Gafni (2000) described the concept of “soul prints,” people’s unique stories Gafni (2000) described the concept of “soul prints,” people’s unique stories –Soul prints are their unique views of holy and holistic living –Failure to live one’s story results in “spiritual disease” © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

16. Spirituality and Stress Chapter 8 © 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.