Journal of Religion and Health

, Volume 46, Issue 3, pp 423–436 | Cite as

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

Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

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.

Keywords

Communication Connection Action Hope Spirituality Religion Recovery Healing Faith Complementary and alternative medicine Placebo Expectancy Prayer Religiosity Addiction Self-help Biomedical Holistic 
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Copyright information

© Blanton-Peale Institute 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of CommunicationFairfield UniversityFairfieldUSA

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