Search Results (518)

Background: Census data in Hungary indicate a substantial decline in declared religious affiliation, with Christian identification falling from 74.4% in 2001 to 42.5% in 2022, underscoring the need for culturally validated measures of religious faith. Methods: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Hungarian versions of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF-10) and its 5-item short form (SCSORF-5) in a cross-sectional online sample of 430 participants (M_age = 22.28, SD = 9.23). Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure for both scales, with acceptable support when considering the full pattern of indices, but with elevated RMSEA as a limitation. All models were estimated with the mean- and variance-adjusted weighted least squares estimator (WLSMV) on polychoric correlations, under which fit improved markedly for the SCSORF-10 (CFI = 0.992, TLI = 0.989, SRMR = 0.040, RMSEA = 0.080). Modification indices identified a single interpretable residual covariance between the two explicitly devotional items, which did not alter the solution and was not retained. Measurement invariance across gender was tested with the sequence appropriate to ordered categorical indicators, and configural, threshold, threshold-and-loading, and strict invariance were all supported. Internal consistency was high (SCSORF-10: α = 0.95, ω = 0.95; SCSORF-5: α = 0.89, ω = 0.89). Convergent validity was demonstrated by strong associations with spiritual well-being, while correlations with self-esteem were weak, providing limited discriminant evidence against a conceptually distant construct. Conclusion: The short form showed psychometric properties closely comparable to the full scale; because its items are a subset of the full version, this correspondence is partly expected. Both instruments appear to be reliable and valid for assessing religious faith in Hungary. Known-group evidence was strong: scores separated self-described religious respondents from atheists (d = 1.37) and from believing-but-not-religious respondents (d = 1.17), and the religiosity category accounted for 27.5% of score variance, whereas scores were unrelated to gender and age. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ageing populations face complex challenges, yet many older adults maintain well-being despite adversity. Understanding resilience offers critical direction for health promotion. This integrative review takes a conceptual and methodological approach to resilience in older adults, with clear implications for geriatric care. The review addresses: (1) how resilience is conceptualised and measured; (2) individual, social, and contextual factors linked to resilience; and (3) the effectiveness of interventions that aim to promote resilience. Methods: Following Whittemore and Knafl’s framework, a systematic search of six databases (PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL; 2016–2025) identified 42 empirical studies across 18 countries of diverse designs. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and thematic analysis identified five convergent themes. Results: Most studies explicitly defined resilience using trait-, process-, or outcome-based frameworks and employed validated instruments, most commonly the CD-RISC. Self-efficacy, spirituality, sense of coherence, and gratitude were consistently associated with resilience. Family relationships, social networks, and community participation were important relational correlates. Health status, education, economic security, and digital literacy were key contextual factors. Six longitudinal studies linked higher resilience to reduced mortality, slower cognitive decline, and attenuated frailty progression. Seven intervention studies, including five randomised controlled trials, supported physical activity, mindfulness, positive thinking training, Tai Chi, and technology-supported exercise as promising intervention modalities, though one web-based programme yielded null findings. Conclusions: Resilience in older adults is a multifaceted and potentially modifiable construct. Growing longitudinal evidence extends its relevance beyond psychological well-being to physical health outcomes, though cross-sectional designs predominate and limit causal inference. Measurement heterogeneity across more than twenty instruments underscores the need for international consensus and culturally valid tools. Larger longitudinal studies and adequately powered trials are needed to guide definitive practice and policy for ageing populations worldwide. Full article

Background: In advanced cancer care, routine clinical assessment often focuses on symptoms, treatment tolerance, and disease status, while spiritual well-being remains insufficiently explored despite its relevance to quality of life (QoL). Standardized patient-reported tools may help identify spiritual and existential vulnerability in patients receiving palliative treatment. This study evaluated the EORTC QLQ-SWB32 as a structured spiritual well-being assessment tool in advanced cancer care through its cultural adaptation and clinical validation among Romanian patients. Furthermore, it evaluated the tool’s feasibility and explored the association between spiritual well-being and QoL in individuals receiving palliative systemic therapy. Methods: Following EORTC Quality of Life Group guidelines, the QLQ-SWB32 was translated and pilot-tested with ten cancer patients. A prospective, cross-sectional observational study was then conducted at the Regional Institute of Oncology in Iași, Romania. Over six months, 42 adult patients with metastatic or locally advanced inoperable malignancies undergoing palliative systemic therapy were enrolled. Participants completed the EORTC QLQ-SWB32 and EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaires, while sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected using structured case report forms. Results: The translated instrument showed good linguistic clarity and clinical acceptability during pilot testing. The study cohort was predominantly aged 40–64 years (52.38%) and was socio-culturally homogeneous, with all patients identifying as Romanian and most as Eastern Orthodox (92.85%). The Relationship with God/the Divine (RSG) domain showed a stronger association with QoL in male patients than in female patients, particularly in subsequent treatment lines. In the subsequent-line subgroup, residential environment reached statistical significance (p = 0.021), with a stronger RSG–QoL correlation among rural residents. Age-related inversion patterns in the RSG–QoL association were also observed across treatment lines. Conclusions: Spiritual well-being assessment may provide clinically relevant patient-reported information in advanced cancer care. The Romanian EORTC QLQ-SWB32 demonstrated feasibility, linguistic clarity, and clinical validity as a structured assessment tool. The association between the Relationship with God/the Divine domain and QoL varied according to sex, age, residential environment, and treatment trajectory, supporting the integration of standardized spiritual assessment into individualized palliative oncology care. Full article

Background/Objectives: End-of-life (EOL) preparedness remains critically understudied among Hispanic patients with advanced breast cancer and their patient–caregiver dyads, despite evidence that preparedness significantly influences quality of life, care decisions, and caregiver well-being. This study aimed to explore how Hispanic patient–caregiver dyads conceptualize and experience EOL preparedness. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed, guided by the Dyadic Cancer Outcomes Framework, which highlights patient and caregiver characteristics, relationship processes, individual and relational outcomes, the cancer care trajectory, and the broader social context as interrelated influences on dyadic experience. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in Spanish with 11 metastatic patient–caregiver dyads (n = 22 participants) recruited through Ponce Health Sciences University and the Ponce Research Institute in Puerto Rico. Data were analyzed using codebook thematic analysis in NVivo 15, with themes interpreted through the framework’s components. Results: Six interdependent themes of EOL preparedness were identified: psychological and emotional, spiritual, informational, practical, physical, and caregiver role preparedness. Spiritual preparedness, grounded in faith, prayer, and surrender to divine will, functioned as the foundational axis organizing all other themes. Preparedness was dynamic and turning-point-driven, challenged anew at each stage of disease progression. Financial vulnerability, caregiver invisibility within formal care systems, and insufficient anticipatory information were identified as primary barriers. Family support and faith communities were the most consistently cited facilitators. Conclusions: The findings yield the first grounded, dyadic conceptualization of EOL preparedness with Hispanic advanced breast cancer patient–caregiver dyads. We propose a formal definition positioning preparedness as a dynamic, multidimensional, relationally embedded, and spiritually anchored process that is fundamentally interdependent between patient and caregiver. These results directly inform the development of a culturally tailored, dyadic EOL preparedness intervention for this underserved population. Full article

Background: Heart failure is a chronic and progressive condition that substantially affects patients’ physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. Although the clinical burden of heart failure is well documented, limited qualitative evidence exists regarding how Saudi adults experience and interpret the condition within their cultural, familial, and religious contexts. This study explored the experiences of Saudi adults living with heart failure and their perceptions of its impact on health-related quality of life. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study informed by an interpretivist perspective was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 25 Saudi adults diagnosed with heart failure. Participants were recruited from specialized heart failure and cardiac outpatient clinics within a tertiary medical city in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were identified: (1) emotional distress and fear, (2) loss of independence and increased dependency, (3) social role disruption, and (4) coping and adaptation strategies. Participants described significant psychological burden, reduced autonomy, and changes in family and social roles following their diagnosis. Conclusions: Heart failure was experienced as more than a physical illness, affecting participants’ emotional well-being, social identity, family relationships, and spiritual life. The findings underscore the importance of holistic and culturally responsive care that addresses psychological, social, spiritual, and family-related needs alongside symptom management. Full article

Retirement is a major later-life transition, yet existing reviews have often examined selected dimensions of well-being rather than integrating evidence across physical, mental, social, financial and spiritual or meaning-related domains. This umbrella review synthesised systematic review evidence on factors and interventions influencing well-being among retired older adults. Following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Reviews guidance, five databases were searched for systematic reviews published from 2015 onward. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251158970). Screening, quality appraisal and data extraction were completed independently by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Eleven systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Findings showed that retirement well-being is multidimensional and context-dependent, shaped by social participation, physical health, psychological resources, retirement preparation, voluntary retirement, financial security and meaningful engagement. Social participation and social integration were among the most consistent determinants, while financial and spiritual or meaning-related well-being were less frequently examined. Intervention evidence was limited and focused mainly on physical activity, health behaviours and volunteerism. Retirement well-being is influenced by interacting personal, social and structural factors, highlighting the need for multidimensional interventions and more consistent measurement across well-being domains. Full article

Background/Objectives: Yoga practice is associated with enhanced wellbeing and reduced psychological distress; however, the conditional interrelations among yoga frequency, perceived health, wellbeing, distress, and spirituality remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to map these associations and identify variables uniquely relevant to wellbeing among yoga practitioners. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 326 yoga practitioners (94.2% women; Mage = 39.84, SD = 14.81). A Gaussian graphical model with EBIC-graphical LASSO regularization was used to estimate conditional associations among eight variables. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to identify independent predictors of wellbeing. Results: The network retained 20 of 28 possible edges (sparsity = 0.286) and revealed three clusters: health wellbeing (yoga frequency, perceived health, and wellbeing), distress (anxiety and stress), and spirituality. Global experiential spirituality showed the highest strength and expected influence, whereas WHO-5 wellbeing was the most central node in terms of betweenness and closeness. Stability was acceptable to excellent (CS coefficients: strength = 0.70, closeness = 0.60, betweenness = 0.40). The association between yoga frequency and wellbeing persisted independently of distress. The regression model explained 48.1% of the variance in wellbeing (adjusted R² = 0.469, p < 0.001). Higher environmental, but not transcendent, spiritual health (β = 0.136), better perceived health (β = 0.256), and more frequent yoga practice (β = 0.104) uniquely predicted higher wellbeing, whereas depression (β = −0.362) and stress (β = −0.198) uniquely predicted lower wellbeing. The environmental spirituality association was significant in this main model but, in a supplementary model that included all four experiential spirituality domains, was attenuated and depended on model specification. Conclusions: Wellbeing among yoga practitioners is a multidimensional construct uniquely associated with lower levels of depression and distress, as well as self-rated health and environmental spirituality. Depression and stress showed negative associations with wellbeing, whereas perceived health, regular yoga practice, and environmental spirituality showed positive associations. These findings highlight potential correlates of subjective wellbeing among yoga practitioners and underscore the importance of considering both distress-related and positive health-related factors, including perceived health, regular yoga practice, and environmental spirituality (interpreted with caution given its sensitivity to model specification), in future research. Full article

The increasing environmental impact of the textile industry has heightened interest in sustainable consumption practices, particularly second-hand clothing consumption. However, instruments assessing attitudes toward second-hand clothing remain limited. This study aimed to develop a scale to assess university students’ perceptions, sustainability orientations, values, and attitudes toward second-hand clothing consumption and to provide evidence of its psychometric properties. An initial pool of 45 items was generated through a literature review and focus group interviews with students from 14 universities representing different geographical regions of Türkiye. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted using data from 244 university students. After removing nine items, a 36-item, eight-factor structure accounted for 66.43% of the total variance. The factors were labeled Saving, Fashion, Social Interaction, Spiritual Well-Being, Brand Orientation, Sustainability, Trust, and Nostalgia. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) performed on an independent sample supported the proposed structure and demonstrated an acceptable model fit (χ²/df = 2.16; CFI = 0.854; TLI = 0.838; RMSEA = 0.069; SRMR = 0.074). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.712 to 0.913. Overall, the findings indicate that the proposed scale demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties and has the potential to assess university students’ attitudes toward second-hand clothing consumption in future research. Full article

How do the frameworks of religion and spirituality influence perceptions of what it means to be a Black man and a family man? This study explores how increases in religiosity and spirituality influence Black masculinity and fatherhood among 33 Black Christian couples (n = 66). Qualitative interviews and analysis examine how religious beliefs and practices may facilitate shifts from independence-centered views of masculinity to family-oriented, spiritually grounded ideals. Participants described how deepened religiosity and spirituality were perceived as assisting with greater marital fidelity, fatherly involvement, and relational commitment, regardless of denominational affiliation, socioeconomic status, or education. Key mechanisms included (1) personal crises and faith community engagement, (2) divine interventions, (3) scripture study, and (4) recovering traditional religious masculinity roles. Findings suggest that religion and spirituality may provide an alternative framework for Black masculinity, one that emphasizes relationality, moral integrity, and family leadership. These processes are interpreted through Ryff’s six-factor model of eudaimonic well-being and mapped onto positive psychology constructs such as resilience, meaning-making, and the sanctification of family roles. Full article

Background: Diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia and shapes individuals’ lived experiences within culturally and religiously embedded contexts. Although existing research has extensively examined biomedical, behavioral, and psychosocial dimensions of diabetes using quantitative and conventional qualitative approaches, there remains limited understanding of how individuals interpret, construct meaning, and reconstruct identity in relation to the illness over time. In particular, phenomenological inquiry is needed to access the lived, embodied, and existential dimensions of type 2 diabetes that are often not captured in existing outcome- or theme-focused qualitative studies. This study aimed to explore how Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes experience identity transitions, construct meaning, and undergo personal transformation. Methods: A hermeneutic phenomenological design informed by van Manen was employed. Twenty-seven Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes of at least one year’s duration were purposively recruited from a tertiary diabetes center in Riyadh. The sample size was guided by the principles of hermeneutic phenomenology, which prioritize depth, richness, and interpretive adequacy rather than numerical saturation. Recruitment and data collection continued until interpretive sufficiency was achieved, defined as the point at which no new experiential meanings or conceptual insights emerged across iterative analysis. Data were generated through in-depth, face-to-face interviews conducted in Arabic. Analysis followed an iterative interpretive process guided by the hermeneutic circle. Reflexivity, member checking, and peer review were used to enhance rigor. Results: Diabetes was experienced as a profound multidimensional disruption affecting embodiment, social roles, emotional well-being, and existential orientation. Participants described persistent fatigue and bodily limitation, shifting family roles and reduced social participation, emotional turbulence moving from shock to acceptance, and ongoing processes of meaning-making grounded in faith, gratitude, and strengthened family relationships. Conclusions: Living with diabetes involves an ongoing process of meaning-making and identity reconstruction that extends beyond clinical disease management to include emotional, social, and existential dimensions. These findings highlight the importance of culturally sensitive, person-centered care that addresses the lived experience of chronic illness within its sociocultural and spiritual context. Full article

This article examines developmental communication as one of the key factors influencing health and the overall functioning of the family. The aim of the study is to highlight the importance of interpersonal communication and religious values in fostering family bonds, shaping health-promoting attitudes, and enhancing the psychological, social, and spiritual well-being of family members. The article is theoretical and analytical in nature and is based on a literature review spanning family studies, pedagogy, sociology, psychology, and the psychology of religion. The findings indicate that open, dialogue-oriented communication supports the development of strong emotional bonds, a sense of security, and family resilience in the face of crisis situations. The importance of marital relationships, parent–child communication, and intergenerational relations for the psychosocial health of family members is emphasized. The study also highlights the role of religion and spiritual values as factors that strengthen family cohesion, foster a sense of meaning in life, and enhance coping with adversity. The conclusions suggest that developmental communication, supported by moral and spiritual values, is a key element in building a healthy and sustainable family system. Full article

Background: Stigma is a persistent barrier to psychosocial wellbeing and recovery of individuals with mental illnesses. Aim: This study aims to examine stigma experienced by individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses. Method: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of peer-reviewed qualitative primary studies followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Five databases: CINAHL Ultimate, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycINFO, MEDLINE Ultimate, and Embase were searched for studies published between 2021 and 2025. A total of 17 studies were included after rigorous screening. Results: Thematic analysis identified three major themes and fifteen sub-themes. These are manifestations of stigma (prevalence of stigma, operation of stigma, stigma related to mental health diagnosis, stigma related to motherhood and impacts of stigma), multiple factors shaping stigma (ignorance and misunderstanding, spiritual and religious beliefs, family and friends, cultural beliefs) and management of stigma (management strategies, internalising stigma, isolation due to stigma, disclosure of mental illness, non-disclosure of mental illness and help-seeking for mental illness). Conclusions: Stigma related to mental illness remains widespread and continues to influence individuals’ experiences, relationships, and help-seeking behaviours. Addressing stigma through improved mental health awareness and supportive environments is essential to promote recovery and wellbeing. Full article

Spirituality and religiosity are increasingly recognized as important factors influencing mental health, particularly among women exposed to diverse vulnerabilities such as interpersonal violence, trauma, HIV infection, homelessness, and socioeconomic disadvantage. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the associations between spiritual or religious resources and mental health outcomes in these populations. A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science to identify studies examining the association between spirituality, religiosity, and mental health outcomes in vulnerable women. A total of 28 studies were identified, including cross-sectional, longitudinal, and mixed-methods designs, which measured spirituality and religiosity using validated instruments such as SWBS, DUREL, FACIT-Sp-12, and Brief RCOPE, alongside standardized mental health measures. Narrative synthesis revealed that the majority of studies (n = 15) reported that higher spiritual well-being, intrinsic religiosity, and adaptive religious coping were associated with lower depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, and with higher resilience, quality of life, and post-traumatic growth. These associations appeared to be shaped by contextual factors, including the type and severity of trauma, cultural and religious frameworks, and the lived experiences of the populations studied. Negative associations were primarily linked to negative religious coping (n = 5 studies), rather than religiosity per se. Additional factors that attenuated or reversed the expected positive effects included higher trauma severity or ongoing adversity (n = 4), reactive patterns in which greater psychological distress was associated with increased use of religious coping (n = 3), maladaptive religious beliefs such as interpretations of trauma as divine punishment (n = 2), and cultural or contextual influences (n = 3). Overall, the evidence suggests that spirituality and specific dimensions of religiosity (e.g., intrinsic religiosity, religious coping) can support mental health among vulnerable women, though personal, cultural, and situational factors shape their impact. These findings suggest the potential value of integrating spiritual resources into interventions and the need for further longitudinal and culturally sensitive research. Full article

Urban renewal increasingly adopts Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) to address environmental challenges and enhance social well-being. However, it remains unclear whether and to what extent NBSs contribute to cultural ecosystem services (CESs), which reflect people’s perceptions, values, and experiences of urban nature. This study develops an integrated framework combining text and image mining of social media data to evaluate the CES outcomes of NBS in regenerated urban districts in Chengdu, China. The comment data were analyzed for CES using Jieba word segmentation and dictionary matching, while images were categorized into NBS types by manual classification. By integrating these multimodal data, the framework effectively clarifies the relationship between NBSs and CESs from the perspective of public perception. Results indicate that recreation and leisure, inspiration, and spiritual values are the most prominent aspects of public perception, with linear green infrastructure and pocket parks being the most frequently identified NBS types. Correspondence analysis further reveals significant associations between specific NBS interventions and CES categories. By integrating textual and visual data, this study offers a practical and real-time approach for capturing public perceptions of CESs and provides actionable insights for the design and management of NBS-driven urban regeneration. Full article

Background/Objectives: Previous literature has linked nutrition with both psychological distress and well-being. However, less is known about how psychological and spiritual resources cluster within individuals or whether distinct psychospiritual profiles are associated with dietary and lifestyle behaviors. This study examined these associations using a person-centered approach. Methods: A community sample of 522 adults from the United States completed measures of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, coping self-efficacy, gratitude, forgiveness, religiousness/spirituality, daily spiritual experiences, religious/spiritual meaning and beliefs, and dietary and lifestyle behaviors. Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify psychospiritual profiles. Results: Four profiles were identified: Moderate (n = 195), Flourishing (n = 199), Vulnerable (n = 70), and Maladaptive (n = 58). The Flourishing profile demonstrated the most adaptive psychological functioning and was associated with healthier dietary behaviors, including lower breakfast skipping and fast-food consumption, greater whole-grain and vegetable intake, lower salt use, and lower sweets and dessert intake. The Vulnerable profile demonstrated the highest levels of perceived stress and depressive symptoms together with relatively elevated religiousness/spirituality, whereas the Maladaptive profile was characterized by elevated distress and consistently low levels of psychological and spiritual resources. Overall, the Vulnerable and Maladaptive profiles demonstrated less favorable dietary patterns relative to the Flourishing and Moderate profiles. However, the observed effects were generally modest and selective. Conclusions: Dietary and lifestyle behaviors may be associated with broader psychospiritual configurations rather than isolated psychological characteristics alone. The findings additionally highlight the heterogeneous nature of religiousness and spirituality within psychological functioning. Full article