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Maraldi EO, Taves A, Moll J, Hartle L, Moreira-de-Oliveira ME, Bortolini T, Fischer R. Nonordinary Experiences, Well-being and Mental Health: A Systematic Review of the Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2024; 63:410-444. [PMID: 37507577 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-023-01875-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Throughout history, people have reported nonordinary experiences (NOEs) such as feelings of oneness with the universe and hearing voices. Although these experiences form the basis of several spiritual and religious traditions, experiencing NOEs may create stress and uncertainty among those who experience such events. To provide a more systematic overview of the research linking NOEs with mental health, we present a systematic review of studies focusing on NOEs, well-being and mental health indicators. In a search of ProQuest and PsycInfo, we identified 725 references, of which 157 reported empirical data and were included in our review. Overall, the studies reviewed suggest that the relationship between NOEs and mental health is complex, varying according to a series of psychological and social factors. In particular, they suggest that appraisal processes play a fundamental role in the mental health outcomes of these experiences. However, we also highlight important methodological challenges such as the conceptual overlap between NOEs and well-being or psychopathological constructs, the conflation between experiences and appraisal processes in the assessment procedure, and the need for clearer assessment of the duration, controllability, impact on daily functioning and general context of the experiences. We provide a qualitative summary of empirical evidence and main themes of research and make recommendations for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Everton O Maraldi
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rua Diniz Cordeiro, 30, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, 22281-100, Brazil.
- Department of Religious Studies, Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Ann Taves
- Department of Religious Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Jorge Moll
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rua Diniz Cordeiro, 30, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, 22281-100, Brazil
| | - Larissa Hartle
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rua Diniz Cordeiro, 30, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, 22281-100, Brazil
| | - Maria E Moreira-de-Oliveira
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rua Diniz Cordeiro, 30, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, 22281-100, Brazil
| | - Tiago Bortolini
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rua Diniz Cordeiro, 30, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, 22281-100, Brazil
| | - Ronald Fischer
- Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics Unit, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rua Diniz Cordeiro, 30, Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, 22281-100, Brazil
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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The Daily Spiritual Experience Scale: Empirical Relationships to Resiliency-Related Outcomes, Addictions, and Interventions. RELIGIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rel13030237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES) is a 16-item self-report measure designed to assess a set of experiences that may occur in the context of daily life for many different kinds of people. These include awe, a merciful attitude, giving other-centered love, deep inner peace, finding strength, guidance, or consolation from a transcendent source, among others. The DSES includes theistic and non-theistic language and alternatives, and has proven useful for those from many religions and for the unaffiliated. Since its original publication, it has been translated into over 40 languages, used in hundreds of published studies, and adopted for use in many practical settings. Empirically, the DSES predicts greater resilience, stress buffering, post-traumatic growth, and a sense of meaning in the face of illness, trauma, and daily stressors, as well as less substance abuse and burnout. Intervention studies using the DSES show that a variety of interventions can increase the frequency of these experiences. In this article, we will provide a brief overview of the scale and review its use in the empirical literature with respect to resilience and related outcomes. Findings suggest that the experiences measured by the DSES may serve as a resource for those experiencing distress of various kinds.
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de Abreu Costa M, Moreira-Almeida A. Religion-Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review and Description of Techniques. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2022; 61:443-466. [PMID: 34518980 PMCID: PMC8837510 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-021-01345-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Systematic reviews have shown the efficacy of religion-adapted cognitive behavioral therapy (R-CBT); however, many clinicians lack practical knowledge of these protocols. We describe here the techniques of religious adaptation to CBT that have proved effective. We selected randomized clinical trials comparing R-CBT with control conditions in clients with a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder and extracted the information from their adapted manuals. The most frequent religious adaptations were the integration of religious content to perform cognitive restructuring, psychoeducation and motivation; engagement in religious activities such as behavioral activation, meditation, or prayer to help cognitive restructuring, using religious values and coping strategies. A description of these techniques is presented here, as well as some practical examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna de Abreu Costa
- Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul (UFRGS), Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Rio Branco, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-007, Brazil.
| | - Alexander Moreira-Almeida
- Research Center in Spirituality and Health (NUPES), School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
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Ni X, Su H, Lv Y, Li R, Chen C, Zhang D, Chen Q, Zhang S, Yang Z, Sun L, Zhou Q, Zhu X, Gao D, Fang S, Hu C, Pang G, Yuan H. The major risk factor for depression in the Chinese middle-aged and elderly population: A cross-sectional study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:986389. [PMID: 36440394 PMCID: PMC9691648 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.986389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of patients suffering from depression is continuously increasing in China. Demographic characteristics, physical health levels, and individual lifestyles/healthy behaviors are associated with the severity of depression. However, the major risk factor for depression remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this investigation, 16,512 patients were screened using the CHARLS (China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study) database after being determined to be eligible based on the inclusion criteria. Depressive symptoms were evaluated through the CESD-10 (10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale). Consequently, various models were developed based on potential predictive factors, employing stepwise LR (Logistic Regression)/RF (Random Forests) models to examine the influence and weighting of candidate factors that affect depression. RESULTS Gender, residential address location, changes in health status following last interview, physical disabilities, chronic pain, childhood health status, ADL (activity of daily living), and social activity were all revealed to be independent risk factors for depression (p < 0.05) in this study. Depression has a synergic effect (across chronic pain and age groups). In comparison to other factors, RF results showed that chronic pain had a stronger impact on depression. CONCLUSION This preliminary study reveals that chronic pain is a major risk factor for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Ni
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, China
| | - Huabin Su
- Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Yuan Lv
- Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Rongqiao Li
- Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Chen Chen
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Shenqi Zhang
- Department of Joint and Sports Medicine, Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Jining Medical University, Shandong, China
| | - Ze Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoquan Zhu
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, China
| | - Danni Gao
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, China
| | - Sihang Fang
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, China
| | - Caiyou Hu
- Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Guofang Pang
- Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Huiping Yuan
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, Beijing, China
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Bovero A, Tosi C, Botto R, Opezzo M, Giono-Calvetto F, Torta R. The Spirituality in End-of-Life Cancer Patients, in Relation to Anxiety, Depression, Coping Strategies and the Daily Spiritual Experiences: A Cross-Sectional Study. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2019; 58:2144-2160. [PMID: 31165319 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-019-00849-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate "Faith" and "Meaning/Peace" dimensions of the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-spiritual well-being scale (FACIT-Sp-12) in relation to coping strategies, anxiety and depression, and to analyze the relationship between FACIT-Sp-12 and the daily spiritual experience scale in end-of-life cancer patients. A sample of 152 participants were involved. The daily spiritual experiences correlated the most with "Faith" subscale. Moreover, religious coping, depression and daily spiritual experiences resulted "Faith" significant predictors, while depression, anxiety, self-distraction, positive reframing and behavioral disengagement were "Meaning/Peace" subscale's significant predictors. These findings highlighted the considerable impact of the daily spiritual experiences on patients' spiritual well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bovero
- Clinical Psychology and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, "Città della Salute e della Scienza" Hospital, Turin, Italy.
- A.O.U. "Città della Salute e della Scienza", Corso Bramante n. 88, 10126, Turin, Italy.
| | - Chiara Tosi
- Clinical Psychology and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, "Città della Salute e della Scienza" Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Rossana Botto
- Clinical Psychology and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, "Città della Salute e della Scienza" Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Marta Opezzo
- Clinical Psychology and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, "Città della Salute e della Scienza" Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Giono-Calvetto
- Clinical Psychology and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, "Città della Salute e della Scienza" Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Riccardo Torta
- Clinical Psychology and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, "Città della Salute e della Scienza" Hospital, Turin, Italy
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Herren OM, Burris SE, Levy SA, Kirk K, Banks KS, Jones VL, Beard B, Mwendwa DT, Callender CO, Campbell AL. Influence of Spirituality on Depression-Induced Inflammation and Executive Functioning in a Community Sample of African Americans. Ethn Dis 2019; 29:267-276. [PMID: 31057312 DOI: 10.18865/ed.29.2.267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
African Americans (AAs) are disproportionately affected by cerebrovascular pathology and more likely to suffer from premature cognitive decline. Depression is a risk factor for poorer cognitive functioning, and research is needed to identify factors that serve to mitigate its negative effects. Studies have demonstrated positive influences of spirituality within the AA community. Determining whether spirituality attenuates the effects of depressive symptoms on cognitive functioning and the pathophysiological mechanisms that explain these relationships in AAs is paramount. This study examines the influence of daily spiritual experiences on the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning, and how inflammatory markers may partially explain these associations. A sample of 212 (mean age= 45.6) participants completed the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Trail Making Test A and B (TMT) and Stroop Color and Word Test (Stroop). Blood samples were collected to measure inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-1a, TNF-a). Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate associations. Higher BDI-II scores were associated with poorer psychomotor speed and visual scanning, measured by TMT A (B=1.49, P=.01). IL-6 explained a significant amount of variance in this relationship (B=.24, CI 95% [.00, .64]). IL-6 also significantly mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and psychomotor speed and mental flexibility, measured by TMT B performance (B=.03, CI 95% [.003, .095]). Frequent spiritual experiences among AAs may ameliorate the negative influence of depressive symptoms on cognitive functioning.
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Penman J. Finding Paradise Within: How Spirituality Protects Palliative Care Clients and Caregivers From Depression. J Holist Nurs 2017; 36:243-254. [DOI: 10.1177/0898010117714665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The aims of this article are to explore the experience of depression among palliative care clients and caregivers, describe the strategies they use in coping with depression, and clarify the role of spirituality in preventing and/or overcoming depression. This article discusses an aspect of the findings of a larger doctoral study that explored the nature of spirituality and spiritual engagement from the viewpoint of individuals with life-limiting conditions and their caregivers. van Manen’s phenomenology was used in the study. The data generated from the doctoral study were subjected to secondary analysis to uncover the experience of depression. The methodology underpinning the secondary analysis was phenomenology also by van Manen. Fourteen clients and caregivers from across regional and rural South Australia informed the study. Data collection involved in-depth nonstructured home-based interviews that were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The findings highlighted relate to participants succumbing to depression, but having spiritual beliefs and practices helped them cope. One of the most insightful understanding was the role spirituality played in protecting individuals from depression, encapsulated in the theme “finding paradise within.” Spirituality, understood from a religious or secular perspective, must be embedded in palliative care as it assisted in preventing and overcoming depression.
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