Chapter 36 Spiritual health Flashcards
Define spirituality
An awareness of one’s inner self and a sense of connection to higher being, nature, or some purpose greater than oneself
A person’s health depends on a balance of?
Physical, psychological, sociological, cultural, developmental & spiritual factors
Research shows that spirituality positively
Affects & enhances physical & psychological health, quality of life, health promotion behaviors, & disease prevention activites
Many of the beneficial effects of spirituality are tied to
Hormonal & neurological function
Spirituality concept
- unique to each individual; depends on a persons culture, development, life experiences, beliefs, & ideas about life
- inherent human characteristic in all people
- gives individuals the energy needed to discover themselves, cope with difficult situations, & maintain health
- enables a person to love, have faith and hope, seek meaning in life, & nurture relationships with others
- 5 distinct but overlapping constructs are used to define it: self-transcendence, connectedness, faith & hope, inner strength and peace, meaning & purpose in life
Self-transcendence
A sense of authemtically connecting to one’s inner self. This contrasts with transcendence, the belief that a force outside of and greater than the person exists beyond the material world
- self transcendence is a positive force; allows people to have new experiences & develop new perspectives that are beyond ordinary physical boundaries
- examples of transcendent moments include: the feeling of awe when holding a new baby or looking at a beautiful sunset
Connectedness
Being intrapersonally connected w/in oneself; interpersonally connected w/others & the environment; & transpersonally connected with God, or an unseen higher power
-through connectedness patients move beyond the stressors of everyday life and find comfort, faith, hope, & empowerment
Faith
Allows people to have firm beliefs despite lack of physical evidence. It enables them to believe in & establish transpersonal connections
-exists with or w/out religious beliefs
Hope
- has several meanings that vary on basis of how it is experienced
- usually refers to an energizing source that has an orientation to future goals and outcomes
Spirituality gives people the ability to find a dynamic and creative sense of?
Inner strength to be used when making difficult decisions
Inner peace fosters?
Calm, positive, & peaceful feelings despite life experiences of chaos, fear & uncertainty
Define agnostic
People that believe that there is no known ultimate reality
Search for meaning in life through their work & their relationships with others, do not believe in God
Atheists
Discover meaning in what they do or how they live because they find no ultimate meaning for the way things are. The believe that people bring meaning to what they do
Agnostics
Spiritual well being
Has two dimensions
1) One dimension supports the transcendent relationship between a person & God or a higher power
2) The other dimension describes positive relationships & connections that people have with others
- those who experience spiritual well being feel connected to others & are able to find meaning or purpose in their lives
- those spiritually healthy experience joy, able to forgive themselves & others, accept hardship & mortality, & report an enhanced quality of life