Scientists from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital report that spirituality helps in reference to both severe illness and overall health. In light of their findings, the authors posit spirituality should be incorporated into various healthcare settings.
According to the researchers, spirituality is “the way individuals seek ultimate meaning, purpose, connection, value, or transcendence.”
Lead study author Tracy Balboni said, “Our findings indicate that attention to spirituality in serious illness and in health should be a vital part of future whole person-centered care, and the results should stimulate more national discussion and progress on how spirituality can be incorporated into this type of value-sensitive care.”
The study noted, “Focusing on spirituality in health care means caring for the whole person, not just their disease.”
The researchers concluded that for a generally healthy person, “spiritual community participation” (attending religious services, for example) is linked to a healthier life, greater longevity, better mental health, and less substance use.
Moreover, for many people, spirituality influences key outcomes across illness scenarios, such as quality of life and medical care decisions.
In response to these findings, study authors believe spirituality should be more universally accounted for across health care settings.