Spirituality and religiosity as coping strategies in terminal illness

Pages: 1180-1184
Medha Tripathi and H.S. Asthana (Department of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP)
The relationship between religiosity/spirituality and health is relatively a new frontier in the field of healthcare. The aim of the review is to get acquainted with some recent evidences about possible association between religious/spiritual factors and health outcomes. There are certain links between religious/spiritual practices and reduced onset of physical and mental illness, reduced mortality, and likelihood of recovery from or adjustment to physical and mental illness. It is time to examine this relationship as the link between religiosity, spirituality and health has even begun to receive scientific attention. Unlike other aspects of health, relatively fewer studies and researches have been done in examining this relationship between health and religiosity and spirituality. Overall, available evidences are consistent with the idea that religiosity, spirituality are positively related to physical and mental health. On the other hand, there are little evidences that show a negative impact or no relationship between religiosity, spirituality and health. So the relationship between spirituality, religiosity and health appears a complex phenomenon. Which specific religious and spiritual factors enhance or endanger health and well being still remains unclear. Further, the implication of religiosity and spirituality in the field of health care is discussed. The priority areas for future researches include the exploration of consensual conceptual definitions of religiosity and spirituality and much additional work is needed in the area of measurement of spirituality and religiosity.