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Spirituality in Disability and Illness

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Abstract

Spirituality appears with increasing frequency in the research literature, and a paradigm involving mind-body-spirit interaction is emerging. The relationship of spirituality to disability and illness is at the center of a growing body of knowledge. A comprehensive literature review supported spirituality as coping method among individuals experiencing a variety of illnesses including hypertension, pulmonary disease, diabetes, chronic renal failure, surgery, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, polio and addictive illnesses. Additionally, spirituality is a resource when dealing with critical illness as well as terminal illness and end of life issues, and it is utilized by both patients, and family members. Discussion of research findings, implications for health care practice and future research is also presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USC College of Nursing, USA

    Judy Kaye

  2. South Carolina Cancer Center, University of South Carolina, USA

    Senthil Kumar Raghavan

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  1. Judy Kaye
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  2. Senthil Kumar Raghavan
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Kaye, J., Raghavan, S.K. Spirituality in Disability and Illness. Journal of Religion and Health 41, 231–242 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020284819593

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020284819593

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