Search Results (238)

Ongoing interest in the intersection of spirituality and health has prompted a need for integrated research. This report proposes a distinct approach in a model that allows for successful and harmonious cross-fertilization within these latter two areas of interest. Our work is especially pertinent to inquiries around the role of spirituality in mental health, with special attention to chronic pain conditions. The latter have become an open channel for novel avenues to explore the field of spirituality-based interventions within the arena of psychological inquiry. To address this, the authors developed and implemented the Church and Academia Model, a prototype for an innovative collaborative research project, with the aim of exploring the role of devotional practices, and their potential to be used as therapeutic co-adjuvants or tools to enhance the coping skills of patients with chronic pain. Keeping in mind that the church presents a rich landscape for clinical inquiry with broad relevance for clinicians and society at large, we created a unique hybrid research model. This is a new paradigm that focuses on distinct and well-defined studies where the funding, protocol writing, study design, and implementation are shared by experts from both the pastoral and clinical spaces. A team of theologians, researchers, and healthcare providers, including clinical pain psychologists, built a coalition leveraging their respective skill sets. Each expert is housed in their own environs, creating a functional network that has proven academically productive and pastorally effective. Key outputs include the creation and validation of a new psychometric measure, the Pain-related PRAYER Scale (PPRAYERS), an associated bedside prayer tool and a full-scale dissemination strategy through journal publications and specialty society conferences. This collaborative prototype is also an ideal fit for integrated knowledge translation platforms, and it is a promising paradigm for future collaborative projects focused on spirituality and mental health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Quality of life (QOL) is a multifaceted concept involving a variety of factors which define the overall well-being of individuals. Food security, which implies a resilient food system, is one factor that is central to the calculus of the QOL status of a community considering that food is a staple of life. Advancing food security as a strategy for attaining sustained improvement in community QOL hinges on recognizing that food security is embedded in a matrix of other factors that work with it to generate the QOL the community experiences. The lived experience of the community defines the community’s QOL value matrix and the relative position of food security in that value matrix. Our thesis is that the role of food security in the lived experience of low-income communities depends on the position food security is accorded relative to other factors in the QOL value matrix of the community. Methods: This study employed a multimethod approach to define the QOL value matrix of low-income Guilford County residents, identifying the relative position of the value components and demographic segments based on priority ranking. First, an in-depth interview was conducted and then a telephone survey (280 sample) was used for collecting data. The ISAC Analysis Procedure and Best–Worst Scaling methods were used to identify and rank components of the QOL value matrix in terms of their relative impact on QOL. Results: The analysis revealed that spiritual well-being is the most important contributor to QOL, with a weight of 0.23, followed by access to health services (0.21) and economic opportunities (0.16), while food security has a moderate impact with 0.07. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the need for targeted policy interventions that consider the specific needs of different demographic segments to effectively improve QOL and inform the design of resilient food systems that reflect the lived experiences of low-income communities. Food security policies must be integrated with broader quality of life interventions, particularly for unemployed, low-educated, and single individuals, to ensure that a resilient food system effectively reduces inequities and address community-specific vulnerabilities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Family spirituality is an important concept in family nursing that reinforces the meaning of the family’s existence. However, no studies on specific family intervention methods have been conducted to date. The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of family interventions using the family life review (FLR) program on changes to family spirituality. Methods: An FLR was conducted on six families having older adult members and undergoing family spiritual suffering, with two sessions spaced one week apart. The FLR was conducted using the Plot of Family Story (PFS), a tool for reviewing family history based on the concentric sphere family environment theory (CSFET). Semi-structured interviews and scoring using the Family Spirituality Index were conducted based on CSFET at three points in time: first before, and then after, the FLR, then again one month later, and changes in family spirituality were analyzed using mixed methods. Results: The families encountered family spiritual suffering in the family internal environment system, family system unit, and chrono system according to the CSFET. The FLR, when used with the PFS, was able to maintain, enhance, confer, and actualize family spirituality corresponding to the spiritual suffering being experienced by the target families. Conclusions: Family intervention through an FLR using the PFS can improve family spirituality in families undergoing family spiritual suffering. In this study, the PFS became a legacy for the family and raised awareness of the value of their existence. Full article

Background: Spirituality is increasingly seen as a key component of patient-centered care, especially in serious illness or surgery. However, its role among surgical patients in Eastern Europe remains underexplored. Objective: To assess daily spiritual experiences among surgical patients compared to healthy individuals in the Bucovina region (northeastern Romania). Methods: This observational case-control study included 102 participants (51 surgical patients and 51 healthy controls), recruited between March 2023 and April 2024. Participants completed the validated Romanian version of the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES). Results: Surgical patients reported significantly higher mean DSES scores (M = 66.27, SD = 16.40) than healthy individuals (M = 55.06, SD = 12.81; p < 0.001). Higher scores were also associated with female gender (p = 0.002), older age, and oncological conditions. Widowed and highly educated participants showed a trend toward higher spirituality, though it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Surgery may intensify spiritual experiences, possibly as a coping response to perceived risk. Addressing spiritual needs in perioperative care—particularly among women, older adults, and oncology patients—could enhance holistic care and improve patient well-being. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns had widespread psycho-social implications globally. However, the unique experiences of young adults in under-researched rural communities, such as Lonely Park in South Africa’s North West Province, remain poorly documented. This study explores the psycho-social well-being of young adults aged 18–24 in the Lonely Park community during the national COVID-19 lockdown from 23 March 2020 to 30 April 2020, with a particular focus on their emotional, psychological, and social experiences. Using a qualitative, phenomenological design rooted in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (EST), data were collected from 14 purposively sampled participants through two focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was conducted following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee, and participants provided informed consent. Two main themes emerged, (1) psychological and (2) social well-being. Six sub-themes were identified: (1) negative emotions linked to lockdown, (2) fear of COVID-19 and its consequences, (3) rumination and anxiety, (4) disruption of social and educational routines, (5) coping strategies, and (6) structural limitations of healthcare and support systems. Participants experienced intense fear, boredom, isolation, and a sense of helplessness. Yet, coping mechanisms such as communication, spirituality, exercise, and adherence to public health regulations provided resilience. Some reported depression and financial strain due to job loss and school disruptions. The findings highlight the complex interplay of psychological, emotional, and social stressors in rural young adults during the pandemic. Policymakers and mental health practitioners must prioritise targeted psycho-social interventions for youth in under-resourced rural settings. A call is made for culturally responsive mental health programmes that incorporate local voices, especially in rural African contexts. Full article

Background: Spiritual care is vital for the holistic well-being of hospitalized cancer patients, addressing their emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs. This study addresses gaps in the relevant literature by evaluating spiritual perspectives among Peruvian oncology patients, offering culturally grounded insights that can inform nursing practice and healthcare management. The main objective of this research was to measure the overall level of Spiritual Perspective among hospitalized oncology patients using the Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS) developed by Pamela Reed in 1987, which reflects early aspects of spirituality later integrated into her broader Spiritual Perspective theory. Materials and methods: This study aimed to evaluate the perceived levels of Spiritual Perspective among oncology patients in a hospital setting. Adopting a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional design, data were gathered from 137 patients at a national hospital in Lima, Peru. Results: The majority of participants were older adults, with a high school education, and predominantly single. Findings revealed that most patients experienced moderate levels of Spiritual Perspective, spiritual practices, and beliefs. Patients commonly practiced prayer, meditation, and spiritual reading. Beliefs centered on a higher power and forgiveness. Essential support networks also provided emotional aid, complementing spiritual care. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of spiritual care in nursing for oncology patients. Findings advance understanding of spirituality in illness and support interventions to improve patient outcomes. Full article

This longitudinal study investigated changes in family resilience, support, and functionality among breast cancer patients during the pre-operative and post-operative phases. The study was grounded in McCubbin’s model, emphasizing the psychosocial impact of illness and the cultural dynamics of the Greek family system. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted on women diagnosed with breast cancer, aged over 18, undergoing mastectomy, fluent in Greek, and capable of completing questionnaires at two time points, pre- and post-operatively. Standardized instruments were used: the Family Assessment Device (FAD), the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES), the Family Problem Solving Communication Scale (FPSC), and the Family Support Scale (FS-13). Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, ANOVA, and partial correlations. The sample consisted of 58 women with breast cancer. The mean age of participants was 52 years. According to post-operative measurements, the scales that had a significant change were FS-13 (change −12 and SD = 6.9, paired t-test, p < 0.001), and the subscale “Problem Solving” of FAD (change 0.13 and SD = 0.44, paired t-test, p = 0.048). The remaining scales did not change significantly post-operatively. Depending on the type of treatment, the scales that had a significant difference post-operatively regarded the participants, who had undergone chemotherapy in the dimension “Acquiring Social Support” (ANOVA = 0.173, p = 0.030), the participants, who had undergone radiotherapy in the dimension “Seeking spiritual support” (ANOVA = 0.122, p = 0.035), and in the FS-13 scale across all treatment types (ANOVA = 0.458, p < 0.001). The post-operative phase of breast cancer was a psychosocially vulnerable time, accompanied by an increase in family dysfunction and a significant decrease in family support across all types of treatments, while patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy experienced a corresponding decrease in social and spiritual support. Finally, enhanced family support was associated with improved family resilience, highlighting the need for targeted psychosocial interventions during this period. Full article

Background: Fear of childbirth (FOC) or tokophobia has a detrimental impact on women during and after pregnancy. Childbirth fear is multidimensional and may differ across nations and cultures. We aimed to determine the psychosocial determinants of tokophobia among Asians. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases in September 2023. Included were original English-language articles that focused on Asian cohorts. We identified independent variables associated with maternal childbirth fear based on multivariable logistic and linear regression analysis. Results: Twenty-three studies are discussed in this review. We categorized the factors into (1) psychiatry, (2) psychology, (3) perception and experience, (4) relationships and support, (5) spirituality, and (6) COVID-19. The studies involved 10,538 women with overall FOC prevalence ranging between 56.6% to 82.1%. Maternal history of psychiatric disorder, depression, and anxiety were positive predictors of childbirth fear. Childbirth self-efficacy protects Asian mothers against tokophobia. A reduced level of fear was associated with higher maternal psychological and spiritual well-being, as well as stronger maternal resilience. Spousal and social support alongside good family function were shown to exert a protective effect against childbirth fear. Intimate partner abuse was associated with an increased risk of tokophobia in women. Studies during the pandemic indicated that maternal fear, obsession, and anxiety about COVID-19 were positively correlated to fear of childbirth. Conclusions: Childbirth fear among Asian women is greatly influenced by various psycho-social factors. More culturally driven research is needed to help develop relevant interventions that will enhance maternal psychological and spiritual well-being and reduce the fear of childbirth. Full article

Background: Unlike other chronic diseases, cancer patients undergo different types of treatments that affect their well-being, and as a result, they tend to have different experiences from those of other chronic disease sufferers. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of cancer diagnosis and coping strategies on patients in Vhembe District hospitals in Limpopo Province. Methodology: The study design used was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional survey. The target population included patients in the Vhembe District of Limpopo who had started treatment within the last year. Probability-stratified sampling was used to sample 207 patients from seven selected hospitals in Vhembe District. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, and the data were analyzed using a software package for descriptive statistics (SPSS version 23). Tables were used to display the results visually, and chi-square tests were used to compare the variables. Ethical principles were considered for the participants’ privacy, anonymity, and informed consent. Findings: The findings revealed that the majority of patients 185 (89.4%) experienced a sense of psychosocial distress such as emotional pain; 142 (68.6%) participants experienced hopelessness and despair, 127 (61.3%) resorted to substance use, 160 (77.3%) did not have a positive attitude towards seeking the medical and other support resources available, only a minority resorted to spirituality, and 121 (63.2%) indicated seeking further clarity about the disease. The study recommends supporting cancer patients and their families through the cancer journey. Contributions: Clinicians should provide psychosocial support interventions to enhance mental health and quality of life in cancer patients, and decentralize oncology services by including primary care professionals in delivering chronic illness disease management strategies. Full article

The topos of Vienna as the “stronghold of Christendom” emerged soon after the 1529 unsuccessful siege by the Ottomans. The city’s new strategic status not only spurred the building of new urban fortifications, it also stimulated the production of a large variety of printed texts and pictures that emphasized the necessity of Christian unity among divided Christians. In this context, this article aims to shed new light on the use of one Old Testament episode whose significance and polysemy has been largely overlooked for sixteenth-century Vienna: the attack of Jerusalem by the Assyrian King Sennacherib and his subsequent defeat through divine intervention under the city wall. Instrumental in defining a common spiritual approach to the fight, this Old Testament story can be considered a seminal basis for the paradigm of Vienna as a Jerusalem of unity and unanimity. To analyze the significance of this theme in Vienna, this article will first focus on its representation in Hanns Lautensack’s 1558/1559 famous cityscape before demonstrating that it originated from a far less known source: the 1532 sermons by the Bishop Johann Fabri. Full article

Background: Mothers of children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) frequently face high levels of psychological stress. While the impact of this stress on caregiving is well documented, the potential role of spirituality as a protective factor has received limited attention. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationships among psychological symptoms, spirituality, and coping in mothers caring for children with T1DM, with a particular focus on the potential protective role of spirituality in caregiver resilience. Methods: A total of 134 mothers completed validated Greek versions of the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and the Spiritual and Religious Attitudes in Dealing with Illness (SpREUK) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore associations and predictive relationships. Results: Participants reported elevated psychological symptoms, particularly somatization, anxiety, and depression. Regression analysis revealed that trust in higher guidance was a significant negative predictor of somatization (b = −0.775, p < 0.001), indicating a potential buffering effect. In contrast, the search for support was positively associated with somatization (b = 0.704, p < 0.001), suggesting a more reactive coping pattern. Other spiritual variables, including the total spirituality score and reflection, were not statistically significant in the multivariate model. Conclusions: These findings highlight the relevance of spirituality—particularly spiritual trust—in understanding psychological distress among caregiving mothers. Incorporating existential and spiritual elements into psychosocial interventions may enhance maternal well-being. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify spirituality’s role as a protective or mediating factor in chronic caregiving contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: A history of cancer has been linked to stress and concerns about its recurrence. We aimed to test the benefits of an evidence-based self-help stress reduction method, the Clinical Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), in survivors of cutaneous melanoma, and to contrast its effects on wellbeing and perceptions of cancer recurrence when delivered in a group versus individual instruction setting. Methods: This study was preregistered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05421988, 3 April 2022). Fifty-three patients aged 18 and above, diagnosed with melanoma (stage T1a–T2a) at least 6 months prior, and not in active treatment were recruited from a private skin cancer clinic. After consent, all participants were randomized in one step into three condition groups: Group EFT (G-EFT; n = 16), Individual EFT (I-EFT; n = 18), and a waiting-list control condition (CC; n = 19). G-EFT and I-EFT participants attended weekly treatment sessions for four weeks. Perceptions of cancer recurrence and wellbeing measures were obtained pre- and post-intervention and at three-months follow-up using online questionnaires. Subjective units of distress (SUDs) were recorded by the EFT instructor at the beginning and end of each session. Results: Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs revealed significant improvements from pre- to post-intervention in both EFT conditions in terms of participants’ understanding of how to prevent recurrence and in their spiritual wellbeing. No statistically significant effects were found for fear of recurrence, recurrence perceptions, and affect. Significant decreases in SUD scores were observed in both EFT conditions. Over 80% of the experimental conditions’ participants reported positive changes and satisfaction. Conclusions: The findings provide support for offering EFT instruction as a non-pharmacological and noninvasive self-help method to ameliorate the stress of cancer diagnosis and treatment, and for its similar effectiveness in either a group or individual format. Full article

Self-care is a complex concept that incorporates various strategies designed to promote personal wellbeing and prevent illness, which is a critical need in nursing given the profession’s inherent stressors. The physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological demands placed on nurses can significantly influence their wellbeing and the quality of care they provide. Yet, professional accountability and responsibility for self-care remains contested within the profession. To support a healthier and more sustainable healthcare workforce, Approved Education Institutions (AEIs) delivering pre-registration nursing programmes can play a pivotal role in embedding self-care ethos and practices into the nursing curricula. Grounded in educational psychology and drawing on insights from related theories, this paper explores barriers to self-care, proposes actionable interventions, and advocates for its integration as a cornerstone of nursing education. Full article

This paper introduces the Transition Intervention Point System (TIP-System), a Taoist-inspired theoretical framework aimed at supporting sustainability transitions by integrating multidimensional sustainability research by leveraging point theory. The TIP-System consists of 21 Transition Intervention Points (TIPs), each defined by the intersection of five sustainability dimensions (ecological, social, economic, cultural, and inner) with distinct intervention levels (deep and shallow). The TIP-System endeavors to bridge qualitative and quantitative approaches by drawing on cross-cultural insights. It integrates deep interventions—Taoist-inspired meta-coordination, core values, and spiritual-ethical leverage points—with shallow interventions and technical transition pathways, underpinned by continuous adaptive feedback and systemic interdependencies. Preliminary empirical evidence from eight social innovation initiatives and an ongoing EU-funded rural transition project in Southern Europe suggests that the dynamic interplay among the 21 TIPs may facilitate the identification of transition states and support targeted sustainability change. However, the conceptual complexity of the TIP-System also indicates the need for further refinement to improve its practical accessibility. Future research should aim to develop more user-friendly evaluation tools and assess the framework’s performance across diverse contexts. Overall, the TIP-System provides a promising foundation for guiding transformative change across diverse contexts. Although further empirical validation is warranted, the framework’s novel perspective enriches both theoretical inquiry on and the practical application of sustainability transitions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) commonly used as a palliative approach for patients who are not candidates for surgical resection. Understanding the factors that influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after TACE is essential for improving patient-centered care. This systematic review seeks to consolidate current evidence on the variables that impact HRQoL in HCC patients post-TACE. Methods: In adherence to PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across five English and Chinese databases—PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang—covering studies from database inception to May 2025. Eligible studies were observational and examined factors affecting HRQoL in post-TACE HCC patients. Two independent reviewers performed screening, data extraction, and quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, including six cohort studies and three cross-sectional studies. The quality assessment rated seven studies as high quality and two as moderate. A range of validated HRQoL assessment tools was used, with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and FACT-G being the most commonly employed. The factors influencing HRQoL were grouped into five categories: (1) demographic factors (e.g., age, gender, education level); (2) clinical indicators (e.g., liver function, tumor burden); (3) psychological factors (e.g., depression, anxiety, spiritual well-being); (4) social support (e.g., financial status, coping mechanisms); and (5) physical symptoms (e.g., fatigue, pain, appetite loss). Across studies, both symptom severity and psychological distress were consistently associated with lower HRQoL. Conclusions: The HRQoL of HCC patients following TACE is influenced by a complex interplay of demographic, clinical, psychological, social, and symptomatic factors. Tailored, multidimensional interventions addressing these diverse aspects are crucial to optimizing recovery and improving overall well-being. Full article