Abstract
We intended to analyze whether patients with chronic diseases believe in guardian angels (GdA) as a coping resource. In a cross-sectional survey, we analyzed data from 576 German patients with chronic diseases (mean age 51.3 ± 15.4 years). We found that 56 % of the patients often or even regularly believed in GdA, with significantly more women than men believing. Particularly interesting was the fact that 38 % of patients who were identified as neither religious nor spiritual (R−S−) believed in GdAs. This belief may indicate that patients are interested in bridging the gap between the concrete struggle to manage illness and non-rational/transcendent realms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baumann, K. (2010). Krankheit – Heilung - Heil. Medizin und Pflegewissenschaft im Gespräch mit der Theologie. Stimmen der Zeit, 135, 633–637.
Baumann, K. (2011). Vermessung des Glaubens“ und Geheimnis des Menschseins. In A. Büssing & N. Kohls (Eds.), Spiritualität transdisziplinär. Transdisziplinäre wissenschaftliche Grundlagen im Zusammenhang mit Gesundheit und Krankheit (pp. 67–74). Heidelberg: Springer.
Baumann, K. (2012). Remarks on religions and psychiatry/psychotherapy. In R. Hefti & J. Bee (Eds.), Spiritualität und Gesundheit (pp. 99–117). Bern: Peter Lang.
Bush, E. G., Rye, M. S., Brant, C. R., Emery, E., Pargament, K. I., & Riessinger, C. A. (1999). Religious coping with chronic pain. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 24, 249–260.
Büssing, A. (2010). Spirituality as a resource to rely on in chronic illness: The SpREUK Questionnaire. Religions, 1, 9–17.
Büssing, A., & Koenig, H. G. (2010). Spiritual needs of patients with chronic diseases. Religions, 1, 18–27.
Büssing, A., Matthiessen, P. F., & Ostermann, T. (2005a). Engagement of patients in religious and spiritual practices: Confirmatory results with the SpREUK-P 1.1 questionnaire as a tool of quality of life research. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 3, 53 (http://www.hqlo.com/content/3/1/53).
Büssing, A., Ostermann, T., & Matthiessen, P.F. (2005b). Role of religion and spirituality in medical patients: confirmatory results with the SpREUK questionnaire. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 3,10 (http://www.hqlo.com/content/3/1/10).
Büssing, A., Michalsen, A., Balzat, H. J., Grünther, R. A., Ostermann, T., Neugebauer, E. A., et al. (2009). Are spirituality and religiosity resources for patients with chronic pain conditions? Pain Medicine, 10, 327–339.
Büssing, A., Reiser, F., Michalsen, A., & Baumann, K. (2012a). Engagement of patients with chronic diseases in spiritual and secular forms of practice: Results with the shortened SpREUK-P SF17 Questionnaire. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, 11, 28–38.
Büssing, A., Janko, J., Kopf, A., Lux, E.A., & Frick, E. (2012b). Zusammenhänge zwischen psychosozialen und spirituellen Bedürfnissen und Bewertung von Krankheit bei Patienten mit chronischen Erkrankungen,1, 57–73.
Dezutter, J., Luyckx, K., Schaap-Jonker, H., Büssing, A., Corveleyn, J., & Hutsebaut, D. (2010). God image and happiness in chronic pain patients: The mediating role of disease interpretation. Pain Medicine, 11, 765–773.
Frick, E., and Roser. (2009) T. Spiritualität und Medizin. Gemeinsame Sorge für den Kranken Menschen (Issue 4: Münchner Reihe Palliative Care. Palliativmedizin—Palliativpflege—Hospizarbeit) Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
Koenig, H. G., King, D., & Carson, V. B. (2012). Handbook of religion and health (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
Lee, E., Zahn, A., & Baumann, K. (2011). Religion in psychiatry and psychotherapy? A pilot study: The meaning of religiosity/spirituality from staff’s perspective in psychiatry and psychotherapy. Religions, 2, 525–535.
Lin, H. R., & Bauer-Wu, S. M. (2003). Psycho-spiritual well-being in patients with advanced cancer: An integrative review of the literature. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 44, 69–80.
Thuné-Boyle, I. C., Stygall, J. A., Keshtgar, M. R., & Newman, S. P. (2006). Do religious/spiritual coping strategies affect illness adjustment in patients with cancer? A systematic review of the literature. Social Science and Medicine, 63, 151–164.
Walach, H. (2011). Spiritualität. Warum wir die Aufklärung weiterführen müssen. Klein Jasedow: Drachen Verlag.
Weiher, E. (2009). Das Geheimnis des Lebens berühren - Spiritualität bei Krankheit Sterben und Tod. Eine Grammatik für Helfende (2nd ed.). Kohlhammer: Stuttgart.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to our collaborators in the outpatient pain clinic of the Communal Hospital in Herdecke, the Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine at the Essen-Mitte Clinics, and Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the University Clinic Freiburg, and several other clinics and wards. Moreover, we are grateful to all patients who have filled out the questionnaires. Thanks a lot also to Karin Jors for her critical revision of the manuscript as a native speaker.
Conflict of interest
The authors disclose any direct conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Büssing, A., Reiser, F., Michalsen, A. et al. Do Patients with Chronic Pain Diseases Believe in Guardian Angels: Even in a Secular Society? A Cross-Sectional Study Among German Patients with Chronic Diseases. J Relig Health 54, 76–86 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9735-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9735-9