Spirituality Flashcards
Define Spirituality
Internal search for the transcendent or sacred based on personal belief system.
Define Religion
External process to do the above: rules, rites, rituals – external manifestations of beliefs, but can be separate from spirituality (religious spirituality v secular spirituality)
Define Religiosity
Degree to which one’s life is influence by religious beliefs and practices.
Intrinsic–inner life, prayer
Extrinsic–attendance of church, social aspects.
What are the 6 Bio-Psychosocial categories that affect wellness?
Physical Emotional Social Spiritual Intellectual Occupational
What percentage of the population believes in God?
78%
Define Psychoneuroimmunology
Field examining interrelationships among psychosocial processes and nervous, endocrine, and immune system functioning (Bi-directional)
Was was the classical view of the immune system compared with the modern view?
Science used to think the immune system was isolated from other systems. Now immune systems can be conitioned and manipulated.
What are the 3 Function of the Limbic system and where do they happen?
Memory and Cognition–Hippocampus.
Emotions, Mood, and Social Information–Amygdala
Autonomic Nervous System–Hypothalamus.
What mental state promotes healing and how does it tie to spirituality?
Calmness, promotes healing. Spirituality helps promote this. Psyche–soul.
Psychological states affect the immune system via the nervous system.
Health benefits associated with religiosity and spirituality. 8
Increased longevity/decreased morbidity due to health habits.
Social support (spiritual family)
Increased self-esteem.
Increased levels of serotonin during meditation.
Decreased pain.
Decrease cortisol levels.
Changes in blood flow to brain areas during prayer.
Reduced sympathetic and increased parasympathetic nervous system activation.
Why do persons lean on their belief system?
People often rely on personal belief systems to answer questions of ultimate concern and are often vulnerable and seeking when facing disease, disability or death. Coping strategies are also sought.
What is the current problem with health care and chaplain representation?
Too few resources to provide adequate care from professional with specific training in this area. A chaplain usually has a master’s degree and is trained in spiritual matters.
What are the 3 potential trainwrecks due to a shortage of chaplains?
An important aspect of human need related to health and healing may go unmet or completely ignored.
Using local clergy & laypersons may leave clients vulnerable to proselytizing and coercion
Well meaning health care providers may knowingly or unknowlingly proselytize or coerce faith.
What are the 6 steps to balance spiritual needs and professionalism?
Patient relationship centered models of care.
“Intimacy with Formality”–The “intimacy” is a one-way street.
Follow the client’s lead.
Do not ignore spiritual concerns–Responsibility.
Do not exceed competency or comfort level
Document
What are 3 methods to recognizing spiritual needs?
- Begin to recognize patterns among patients through observation. –prayer, reading material, articles of clothing.
- Demonstrate active listening patterns that allow for further understanding of patients.
- Asking appropriate questions…How are you handling you current diagnosis? or FICA, SPIRITual history, HOPE
