Page 516 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

SpIRITUAlITy n 483

newman’s (2008) theory of health as expand- power as well as others, and religion as a way
ing consciousness. presence, a nursing inter- to organize spiritual beliefs and customs. A
vention for spiritual distress, is also a key common element in many definitions of spir- S
aspect of newman’s theory. Jean Watson ituality is “connection with what is perceived
(2008b) includes spirituality in caring theory as sacred in life” (Thoresen, 2007, p. 5).
and in the caritas processes associated with Differentiating spirituality and religi-
the caring theory. The middle range Theory osity is another important consideration for
of Self-Transcendence (Reed, 2008) reflects those interested in researching spirituality.
spirituality in both the assumptions of the Religious practices may be components of
theory (that humans are pan-dimensional, spirituality as well as supportive nursing
which includes “reaching out to others, interventions for enhancing spiritual well
nature, and god,” p. 105) and in the descrip- being, but defining spirituality solely in reli-
tion of the transpersonal aspect of the major gious terms excludes nonreligious people
theoretical concept of self-transcendence. from research populations. Attending reli-
Spirituality, central concept in the middle gious services or participating in religious
range theory of spiritual well-being in illness activities may be more an indicator of physi-
(O’Brien, 2008), focuses on finding spiritual cal and social capabilities rather than a mea-
meaning during illness experiences. sure of spirituality.
nurse researchers interested in examin- measuring spirituality presents another
ing spirituality are faced with several chal- set of challenges. measurements used in
lenges. Because spirituality is inherently spirituality and health research are primar-
subjective, one consideration is defining and ily self-report scales that measure either a
measuring spirituality as a research variable. disposition of an individual to be spiritual
Although concept analyses on “spiritual- or religious or the function of spirituality
ity” have identified attributes of spirituality or religion in a person’s life (hill, 2005; hill,
(Buck, 2006; emblen, 1992; Sessanna, Finnell, Kopp, & Bollinger, 2007). hill (2005) classi-
& Jezewski, 2007; Tanyi, 2002) and the inclu- fies disposition measures into four categories
sion of “spiritual distress,” “spiritual well- and functional measures into eight cate-
being,” “spiritual health,” “spiritual growth gories, related to health-relevant domains
facilitation,” and “spiritual support” in the originally identified by the Fetzer Institute/
nursing diagnosis, intervention, and out- national Institute on Aging Working group
comes lexicon (Johnson et al., 2006), it can- (1999). Disposition measures include scales
not be assumed that spirituality means the related to general spirituality or religious-
same to everyone. For example, Burkhardt ness, religious or spiritual commitment, reli-
and nagai-Jacobson (2005) discuss inner gious or spiritual development, and spiritual
peace, trust in the ability to deal with life or religious history. Functional measures are
challenges, interconnectedness between a categorized as focusing on religious or spir-
person and the sacred, nature, self, and oth- itual social participation, private practices,
ers as characteristics of spirituality. O’Brien support, coping, beliefs and values, moti-
(2008) includes love, compassion, caring, vating forces, techniques for regulating or
transcendence, a relationship with god, and reconciling relationships (forgiveness), and
the connection of body, mind, and spirit as religious or spiritual experiences. The Fetzer
important features of spirituality. Stranahan Institute working group also developed a
(2008) identified important attributes of spir- multidimensional measure of religiousness/
ituality as the need to find meaning and pur- spirituality that includes both functional and
pose in life, inner strength for coping with the dispositional domains.
present and hoping for the future, transcen- establishing causal relationships
dence in relationships with god or higher between spiritual practices and changes