Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Perceived Spirituality, Mindfulness and Quality of Life in Psychiatric Patients

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is some evidence of the relationship between spirituality and quality of life, but there are few bibliographic references on these constructs for patients suffering from mental illness; thus, this study was aimed at revealing the possible role of spiritual outlooks as a protective factor in these individuals. The sample consisted of 96 Portuguese psychiatric patients, selected from a psychiatric hospital and assessed based on parameters for quality of life, spirituality and mindfulness. The data support some theories about the nature of the spirituality. Spiritual beliefs are poorly correlated with the quality of life index, and there is a moderate association between these beliefs and some aspects of mindfulness. It is suggested that a spiritual outlook of psychiatric patients should be taken into account in psychological interventions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ano, G. G., & Vasconcelles, E. B. (2005). Religious coping and psychological adjustment to stress: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(4), 461–480. doi:10.1002/jclp.20049.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Braboszcz, C., Hahusseau, S., & Delorme, A. (2010). Meditation and neuroscience: From basic research to clinical practice. In R. A. Carlstedt (Ed.), Handbook of integrated clinical psychology, psychiatry and behavioral medicine: Perspetives, practices, and research. New York: Springer Publishing Company LLC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, A. P., Marquis, A., & Guiffrida, D. A. (2013). Mindfulness-based interventions in counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 91, 96–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrington, P. (1987). Freedom in meditation (3rd ed.). New Jersey: Pace Educational Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Censos (2011) XV Recenseamento Geral da População/V Recenseamento Geral da Habitação: Resultados Definitivos Portugal. Available at http://censos.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=CENSOSandxpgid=ine_censos_publicacao_detandcontexto=puandPUBLICACOESpub_boui=73212469andPUBLICACOESmodo=2andselTab=tab1andpcensos=61969554. Accessed 03 June 2013).

  • Chandler, C. K., Holden, J. M., & Kolander, C. A. (1992). Counseling for spiritual wellness: Theory and practice. Journal of Counseling and Development, 71, 168–175. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.1992.tb02193.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connell, J., Brazier, J., O’Cathain, A., Lloyd-Jones, M., & Paisley, S. (2012). Quality of life of people with mental health problems: A synthesis of qualitative research. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 10(138), 1–16. doi:10.1186/1477-7525-10-138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Culliford, L., & Eagger, S. (2009). Assessing spiritual needs. In C. H. C. Cook, A. Powell, & A. Sims (Eds.), Spirituality and psychiatry (pp. 16–38). London: RCPsych Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Damianakis, T., & Marziali, E. (2012). Older adults´ response to the loss of a spouse: The function of spirituality in understanding the grieving process. Aging in Mental Health, 16(1), 57–66. doi:10.1080/13607863.2011.609531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delgado, C. (2007). Sense of coherence, spirituality, stress and quality of life in chronic illness. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 39(3), 229–234. doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2007.00173.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D’Souza, R. (2002). Do patients expect psychiatrists to be interested in spiritual issues? Australasian Psychiatry, 10(1), 44–47. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1665.2002.00391.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1971). The case against religion: A psychotherapist’s view. New York: Institute for Rational Living.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmons, R. A. (2003). The psychology of ultimate concerns: Motivation and spirituality in personality. New York: The Gilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitchett, G., Burton, L. A., & Sivan, A. B. (1997). The religious needs and resources of psychiatric inpatients. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 185(5), 320–326.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (2007). A presença ignorada de Deus: Psicoterapia e religião. Petrópolis: Sinodal, Vozes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (2008). Em Busca de Sentido: Um Psicólogo num Campo de Concentração. Petrópolis: Sinodal; Vozes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey, B. B., Daaleman, T. P., & Peyton, V. (2005). Measuring a dimension of spirituality for health research: Validity of the spirituality index of well-being. Research on Aging, 27, 556–577. doi:10.1177/0164027505277847.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1961). The future of an illusion. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, B. D., & Christopher, M. S. (2010). Mindfulness-based attention as a moderator of the relationship between depressive affect and negative cognitions. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 34(6), 514–521. doi:10.1007/s10608-009-9282-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glueck, B. C., & Stroebel, C. F. (1975). Biofeedback and meditation in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 16(4), 303–321. doi:10.1016/S0010-440X(75)80001-0.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goppoldova, E., Dracomirecka, E., Matlova, L., & Hajek, T. (2008). Subjective quality of life in psychiatric patients: Diagnosis and illness-specific profiles. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53(9), 587–593.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gorsuch, R. L. (2002). Integrating psychology and spirituality?. Westport: Praeger Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greeson, J. M., Webber, D. M., Smoski, M. J., Brantley, J. G., Ekblad, A. G., Suarez, E. C., & Wolever, R. Q. (2011). Changes in spirituality partly explains health-related quality of life outcomes after mindfulness-based stress reduction. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 34, 508–518. doi:10.1007/s10865-011-9332-x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Grof, S. (2007). A Psicologia do Futuro. Porto: Via Óptima.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, T. W., & Edwards, K. J. (2002). The spiritual assessment inventory: A theistic model and measure for assessing spiritual development. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 41(2), 341–357. doi:10.1111/1468-5906.00121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helminiak, D. A. (2008). Confounding the divine and the spiritual: Challenges to a psychology of spirituality. Pastoral Psychology, 57, 161–182. doi:10.1007/s11089-008-0163-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, C. (2010). Does mindfulness increase wellbeing? Journal of Holistic Health Care, 7(1), 45–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 169–183. doi:10.1037/a0018555.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann, L., & Walach, H. (2011). Spirituality and religiosity in psychotherapy—A representative survey among German psychotherapists. Psychotherapy Research, 21(2), 179–192. doi:10.1080/10503307.2010.536595.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson, Z. G., Pattison, C., Bostock, L., Murphy, T., & Stewart, M. E. (2007). The influence of socio-demographic and illness variables on quality of life in acute psychiatric patients. Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry, 14, 269–277. doi:10.1002/cpp.536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hood, R. W., Hill, P. C., & Spilka, B. (2009). The psychology of religion (4th ed.). New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, W. (2008). The varieties of religious experience: A study in human nature. Maryland: Arc Manor.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1999). Psicologia e Religião. Petrópolis: Vozes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. New York: Delacorte Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (2012). Mindfulness for beginners: Reclaming the present moment and your life. Canada: Sounds True Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaviani, H., Javaheri, F., & Hatami, N. (2011). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) reduces depression and anxiety induced by real stressful setting in non clinical population. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 11(2), 285–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G. (2010). Spirituality and mental health. International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 7(2), 116–122. doi:10.1002/aps.239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G., Harvey, J. C., Dan, G. B., Harold, S. K., Krishnan, K. R. R., & Thomas, E. S. (1995). Religious coping and cognitive symptoms of elderly medical patients. Psychosomatics, 36(4), 369–375. doi:10.1016/S0033-3182(95)71646-2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E. J. (1989). Mindfulness. Boston: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E. J. (1997). The power of mindful learning. Boston: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loewenthal, K. M., Cinnirella, M., Evdoka, G., & Murphy, P. (2001). Faith conquers all? Beliefs about the role of religious factos in coping with depression among different cultural-religious groups in the UK. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 74(3), 293–303. doi:10.1348/000711201160993.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mace, C. (2008). Mindfulness and the future of psychotherapy. European Psychotherapy, 8(1), 123–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandal, S. P., Arya, Y. K., & Pandey, R. (2012). Mental health and mindfulness: Mediational role of positive and negative affect. SIS Journal of Projective Psychiatry and Mental Health, 19, 150–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow, A. (1994). Religions, values and peak experiences. New York: Penguin Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow, A. (1998). Toward a psychology of being. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masthoff, E. D., Trompenaars, F. J., Van Heck, G. L., Hodiamont, P. P., & De Vries, J. (2006). Quality of life and psychopathology: Investigations into their relationship. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 40, 333–340. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1614.2006.01799.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meneses, R. F., Pais-Ribeiro, J. L., Pedro, L., Silva, I., Cardoso, H., Mendonça, D., Vilhena, E., Martins, A., & Martins-da-Silva, A. (2013). Qualidade de Vida e Espiritualidade em Seis Doenças Crónicas. Book of Proceedings of VIII Simpósio Nacional de Investigação em Psicologia.

  • Nylicek, I., & Teixeira, R. J. (2013) RICH—Relaxamento, Insight, Contacto e Harmonia. PhD Thesis, University of Aveiro, Portugal.

  • Oliver, J., Huxley, P., Bridges, K., & Mohamad, H. (1997). Quality of life and mental health services. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I. (2007). Spiritually integrated psychotherapy: Understanding and addressing the sacred. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., Ano, G. G., & Wachholtz, A. B. (2005a). The religious dimension of coping: Advances in theory, research, and practice. In R. F. Paloutzian & C. L. Park (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality (pp. 479–495). New York: The Gilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., Murray-Swank, N. A., & Tarakeshwar, N. (2005b). An empirically-based rationale for a spiritually-integrated psychotherapy. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 8(3), 155–165. doi:10.1080/13694670500138940.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, C. L. (2011). Implicit religion and the meaning making model. Implicit Religion, 14(4), 405–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perls, F. (1976). The gestalt approach and eye witness to therapy. New York: Bantam Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinto, C., & Pais-Ribeiro, J. L. (2007). Construção de uma Escala de Avaliação da Espiritualidade em Contextos de Saúde. Arquivos de Medicina, 21(2), 47–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, M. M., & Allen, R. G. (2004). Spirituality as means of coping with chronic illness. American Journal of Health Studies, 19(1), 62–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rovers, M., & Kocum, L. (2010). Development of a holistic model of spirituality. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 12, 2–24. doi:10.1080/19349630903495475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slade, M. (2010). Mental illness and well-being: The central importance of positive psychology and recovery approaches. BMC Health Services Research, 10, 26. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-10-26.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sodhi, R., & Manju, D. (2013). Spirituality and mental health among normal and chronic disease group. Internationa Journal of Research Studies in Psychology, 2(1), 59–68. doi:10.5861/ijrsp.2012.106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Underwood, L. G., & Teresi, J. A. (2002). The daily spiritual experience scale: Development, theoretical description, reliability, exploratory factor analysis, and preliminary construct validity using health-related data. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 24(1), 22–33. doi:10.1207/S15324796ABM2401_04.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vaz Serra, A., Canavarro, M., Simões, M., Pereira, M., Gameiro, S., Quartilho, M., & Paredes, T. (2006). Estudos psicométricos do instrumento de avaliação da qualidade de vida da Organização Mundial de Saúde (WHOQOL-Bref) para português de Portugal. Psiquiatria Clínica, 27(2), 41–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, R. K. (1970). Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation. Science, 3926, 1751–1754. doi:10.1126/science.167.3926.1751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, R. K., & Benson, H. (1972). The physiology of meditation. Scientific American, 226(2), 84–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J. B. (1983). Psychology from the standpoint of a behaviorist. Dover, NH: Pinter.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHOQOL Group. (1998). The World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL): Development and general psychometric properties. Social Science and Medicine, 46(12), 1569–1585.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wortman, J. H., & Park, C. L. (2009). Religion/spirituality and changing in meaning after bereavement: qualitative evidence for the meaning making model. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 14(1), 17–34. doi:10.1080/15325020802173876.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zinnbauer, B. J., & Pargament, K. I. (2005). Religiousness and spirituality. In R. F. Paloutzian & C. L. Park (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality (pp. 21–42). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinnbauer, B. J., Pargament, K. I., & Scott, A. B. (1999). The emerging meanings of religiousness and spirituality: Problems and prospects. Journal of Personality, 67(6), 889–919. doi:10.1111/1467-6494.00077.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    João P. Da Silva & Anabela M. S. Pereira

Authors
  1. João P. Da Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anabela M. S. Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to João P. Da Silva.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Da Silva, J.P., Pereira, A.M.S. Perceived Spirituality, Mindfulness and Quality of Life in Psychiatric Patients. J Relig Health 56, 130–140 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0186-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0186-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation