Spirituality and religiousness: a diversity of definitions
Abstract
This study explored the viewpoints of 234 participants from various nationalities on the definition of spirituality and religiousness. Several universal themes emerged from the phenomenological analysis of participants' definitions. Spirituality was primarily viewed as an integral part of one's identity and the personal experience of the transcendent whether it is defined traditionally as God or a higher power, or in more secular terms as unity with the greater world or mystery. In contrast, religiousness is an external tool through which individuals can access their spirituality and relationship to the divine. These results have important implications for how spirituality or religion is assessed and used in interventions with individuals in counseling.
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Despite the increasing use of the concept of spirituality among health researchers, there is no clear consensus about its definition.
“Despite the increasing use of the concept of spirituality among health researchers, there is no clear consensus about its definition (Chiu et al., 2004; Sessanna et al., 2007; Gall et al., 2011).”
From Defining spirituality in healthcare: a systematic review and conceptual framework. (2021) · cites this paper as Gall et al., 2011
The definitions of spirituality are multifactorial, including religious heritage, culture, generation, and nationality.
“The definitions of spirituality are multifactorial, including religious heritage, culture, generation, and nationality (Gall et al., 2011).”
From Defining spirituality in healthcare: a systematic review and conceptual framework. (2021) · cites this paper as Gall et al., 2011
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Defining spirituality in healthcare: a systematic review and conceptual framework.
de Brito Sena, M. A., Damiano, R. F., Lucchetti, G., & Peres, M. F. P. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.756080 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Gall, T. L., Malette, J., & Guirguis-Younger, M.
- Affiliations
- Saint Paul University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Gall, Terry Lynn
- ORCID
- Gall, Terry Lynn
- Venue
- Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-07
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 158-181
- ISSN
- 1934-9637 (ISSN-L)
- 1934-9645
- OpenAlex
- W2026657032
- Cited by
- 144
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 6.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Study and Philosophy of Religion
- Social Sciences › Demography › Workplace Spirituality and Leadership
- Keywords
- spirituality, religiosity, definitions of spirituality, transcendent experience, identity, secular spirituality, spirituality assessment, counseling intervention, cross-cultural perspectives
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