Spiritual Beliefs and Hastened Death

A Study on Medical Students

Dados Bibliográficos

ID13628322
AutoresAlexandre Sousa (Universidade do Porto), Silvia Marina (0000-0003-4808-9000, Universidade do Porto), Miguel Ricou (0000-0002-8190-9587, Universidade do Porto, autor correspondente)
Ano2020
Volume85
Fascículo2
Páginas384-408
Data de publicação2020-07-28
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0030222820944101
PMID32722991
OpenAlexW3045908557
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas54

This study focuses on the impact of common spiritual beliefs regarding metaphysical questions in agreeability with the practice of hastened death. A sample of 497 Portuguese medical students was collected. Differences between genders and religions, predictors for agreeability with hastened death and the association between spiritual beliefs and opinion towards hastened death cases were assessed. Respondents were mostly favourable to the practice of hastened death. Formal religious affiliation and higher levels of religiosity significantly associated with lesser agreeability with hastened death. Statistically significant association was found between every hastened death scenario and multiple of the spiritual beliefs used. A number of spiritual beliefs were predictors of agreeability. We discuss the implications of religion and spirituality in agreeability with hastened death. Further research is required to better understand the true weight of spirituality in one's opinion towards this ethical dilemma

Alternative medicine · Dilemma · Epistemology · Pathology · Religiosity · Spirituality · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Medicine · Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs · Philosophy · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social Psychology