Spirituality as a Predictor of Well-Being, Mental Distress or Both

A Four-Week Follow-Up Study in a Sample of Dutch and Belgian Adults

Bibliographic Data

ID3454276
AuthorsThijs Huijs (0009-0002-6213-7902, University of Humanistic Studies, corresponding author), Arjan W Braam (0000-0002-1460-6201, University of Humanistic Studies), Renske Kruizinga (0000-0003-0922-3940, University of Humanistic Studies), Nele Jacobs (0000-0003-4021-4014, Maastricht University Medical Centre), Jennifer Reijnders (0000-0002-1693-5666, Open University of the Netherlands), Marianne Simons (0000-0001-7993-5893, Open University of the Netherlands)
Year2024
Volume15
Issue2
Pages179
Publication date2024-01-31
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel15020179
OpenAlexW4391403562
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited40

In general, studies of spirituality show positive associations with measures of well-being, but less is known about the possible role of mental distress in this association. Following the two-continua model of mental health, the current quantitative four-week follow-up study examines how spirituality is associated with well-being and mental distress. Spirituality is measured using the Spirituality Attitude and Interest List questionnaire (SAIL), well-being by the Dutch Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHCSF-SF), and mental distress by the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ-48). At baseline, 874 adults from the Netherlands and Belgium completed the online questionnaire; four weeks later, 560 participants completed the follow-up questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses showed that spirituality at baseline, and in particular the subscale on 'meaning in life,' predicted higher well-being scores at follow-up after adjustment for baseline well-being scores. Spirituality also predicted changes in mental distress scores, in particular on the subscales of trust and transcendent experience. However, these associations were in opposite directions. Trust was associated with a small decrease in mental distress over time and transcendent experience was associated with a small increase in mental distress over time. The results confirm the importance of meaning in life, trust, and transcendent experience as elements of mental health

Alternative medicine · Distress · Mental distress · Mental health · Psychiatry · Psychological distress · Spirituality · Clinical Psychology · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology

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