WHAT DOES SCIENCE SAY ABOUT SPIRITUALITY?

Spirituality means something different to everyone. Some see it as a connection to something bigger than themselves, such as nature or God. For another, it is actually about awareness or inner peace. But what does science actually say about spirituality? In this article, we dive into this!

What is spirituality according to science?

It is difficult to define spirituality with a single meaning. Many scientists therefore use a broad description. The American Psychological Association dictionary describes spirituality as "A concern or sensitivity to matters of the mind or soul, especially as opposed to material concerns. More specifically, a concern for God and a sensitivity to religious experiences, which may include the practice of a particular religion, but may also exist without that practice."

Spirituality is therefore often distinguished from religion. Whereas religion is usually tied to dogmas, rituals and organised systems (such as churches or mosques), spirituality is more personal and subjective. It may involve, for example, feeling connected to nature, meditation, mindfulness or seeking meaning in life.

What do scientific studies say about spiritual practices?

Spirituality is increasingly being studied by scientists and they are finding more and more evidence that some spiritual practices can positively affect your health. Here are some examples:

1. Better mental health

According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, it is a good idea to use spirituality more in the healthcare system, partly because it can have a positive impact on patients' mental health. Other studies also show that spiritually minded people experience higher levels of life satisfaction, hope and psychological well-being on average. This 2012 study by Harold G. Koenig is a good example. Koenig looked at many studies on this topic and found that people who are religious or spiritual often have better mental health than others.

2. Less stress and more relaxation

Inez Tuck, Renee Alleyne and Wantana Thinganjana conducted research on the effect of spirituality on stress in 2006. The scientists found that levels of perceived stress dropped significantly among the 27 participants. Spiritual practices were thus found to be effective in reducing stress in this sample of adults. Among other things, meditations can contribute to this:

3. Can help with withdrawal

If you are addicted to alcohol or cocaine, for example, spirituality can potentially help with withdrawal, according to science. You can read about that in this 2019 study by Beraldo et al. In some addicts, spiritual practices are unlikely to have any impact, for example in users of cannabis and crack. Scientific research also shows that spirituality tends to help addicted minorities better.

Science's criticism of spirituality

So some studies show evidence that spirituality can have a positive effect on users. Yet scientists themselves are not always positive about it. They sometimes have the following criticisms, among others:

• Placebo effect: Some scientists suspect that the effects of spirituality may or may not be partly due to people's expectations, rituals and group support. They therefore suggest that spiritual practices may work through the placebo effect.
• Spiritual struggle: Not all people who try a spiritual practice respond well to it. People who struggle with faith doubts, guilt or spiritual crisis may actually be more likely to experience depression and anxiety as a result, according to this scientific study.
• Methodological problems: Spirituality is unfortunately difficult to define and, if possible, it is even more difficult to measure. What is a deep spiritual experience for one person is a subjective experience without a transcendent component for another. This makes it difficult for scientists to define what spirituality is and what benefits it provides.

Science is increasingly recognising the influence of spirituality on human functioning. This does not necessarily involve belief in God or religion, but the experience of connection, meaning and inner peace. Although there are still many questions among scientists, it is clear that spirituality is a legitimate and valuable area of research within psychology, neurology and medicine. Hopefully, this topic will be explored more and more and, at some point, scientists will be able to create a way to measure spirituality properly.

Science:

The role of religion and spirituality in mental health
Published in Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 2014.

This review article discusses how religion and spirituality can have both positive and negative effects on mental health. It highlights the importance of positive religious coping, social support and beliefs, but also warns of possible adverse effects such as negative religious coping and miscommunication. The article highlights the need for healthcare providers to pay attention to the spiritual needs of mental health patients.

You can read the full article on PubMed at the following link: The role of religion and spirituality in mental health

Disclaimer: This article is for information and inspiration. Although there is scientific evidence of positive effects of spirituality, spirituality is not a substitute for medical or psychological help. Always consult a doctor, psychologist or other professional in case of serious complaints. Spiritual practices can be supportive, but are not a panacea. The effects can vary greatly from person to person.