A Conceptual Analysis of Spiritual Distress
Keywords:
spiritual distress, spirituality, conceptual analysisAbstract
Spiritual distress is a phenomenon frequently found in critical, chronic, and terminal patients. However, an extensive review of literature has revealed no conceptual analysis of spiritual distress, despite its significance to healthcare. To build a clear and profound understanding of the meaning and characteristics of spiritual distress, this study adopted Walker and Avant’s approach to conceptual analysis.
According to the conceptual analysis, major characteristics of spiritual distress included physical expression, psychological expression, loss of love and good relationship, loss of self-esteem, loss of meaning and purpose of life, and loss of inner strength. Antecedents of spiritual distress often include illnesses, mental health problems, internal conflicts, loss of loved or respected people, lack of social support, and lack of spiritual and religious practices. A common consequence of spiritual distress is the weakened ability to cope with problems. The results of this conceptual analysis could be applied to developing spiritual distress evaluation instruments, to conducting further relevant research, and to improving nursing practices to alleviate spiritual distress.
Downloads
References
Caldeira S, Carvalho EC, Vieira, M. Spiritual distress-proposing a new definition and defining characteristics. Int. J Nurs Knowl 2013; 24(2):77–84.
Silva GCN, Reis DC, Miranda TPS, Melo RNR, Coutinho MAP, Paschoal GS, et al. Religious/spiritual coping and spiritual distress in people with cancer. Rev Bras Enferm 2019; 72(6):1534-40. doi:http:// dx.doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0585
Schultz M, Meged-Book T, Mashiach T, Bar-Sela G. Distinguishing between spiritual distress, general distress, spiritual well-being, and spiritual pain among cancer patients during oncology treatment. J Pain Symptom Manage 2017; 54(1):66-73. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.03.018.
Caldeira S, Carvalho EC, Vieira, M. Between spiritual wellbeing and spiritual distress: possible related factors in elderly patients with cancer.Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem 2014; 22(1):28-34. doi:10.1590/ 0104-1169.3073.2382
Velosa T, Caldeira S, Capelas ML. Depression and spiritual distress in adult palliative patients: a cross-sectional study. Religious 2017; 8:156. doi:10.3390/rel8080156.
Pinho CM, Gomes ET, Trajano MFC, Cavalcanti ATA, Andrade MS, Valença MP. Impaired religiosity and spiritual distress in people living with HIV/ AIDS. Rev Gaucha Enferm. 2017;38(2);e67712. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1983-1447. 2017.02.67712
Chaiyasit Y, Piboonrungroj P. Nursing cares for patients with spiritual distress. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University Press; 2020.
Rushton L. What are the barriers to spiritual care in a hospital setting? BJN 2014;23(7): 370-374. doi:10.12968/bjon.2014.23.7.370.
Walker LO, Avant KC. Strategies for theory construction in nursing. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall; 2011.
Anandarajah G & Hight E. Spirituality and medical practice: using the HOPE questions as a practical tool for spiritual assessment. AFP 2011;61(1):81-88.
Bartel M. What is spiritual? What is spiritual suffering? JPCC 2004;58:187- 201
Carpenito-Moyet LJ. Nursing diagnosis: application to clinical practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.
Herdman TH & Kamitsuru S. NANDA international nursing diagnoses: definitions and classification, 2015–2017. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell; 2014.
Richardson P. Spirituality, religion and palliative care. Ann Palliat Med 2014;3(3):150-9.
Martins H & Caldeira S. Spiritual distress in cancer patients: a synthesis of qualitative studies. Religions 2018;9:285. doi:10.3390/rel9100285.
Chobchai B. The spiritual dimension of nursing by using nursing process. Khon Kaen: Khon Kaen University Press; 2003. (in Thai)
Nilmanat K. The end of life care. Songkhla: Chanmuang Press; 2012. (in Thai)
Bhatnagar S, Gielen J, Satija A, Singh SP, Noble S, Chaturvedi S. Signs of spiritual distress and its implications for practice in Indian Palliative Care. Indian J Palliat Care 2017. 23: 306-311.
Monod SM, Rochat E, Büla CJ, Jobin G, Martin E, Spencer B. The spiritual distress assessment tool: an instrument to assess spiritual distress in hospitalised elderly persons. BMC Geriatrics 2010;10:88. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2318/10/88
Ku YL, Kuo SM, Yao CY. Establishing the validity of a spiritual distress scale for cancer patients hospitalized in southern Taiwan. IJPN 2010;16: 134–8.
Farsky I. Spiritual and psychological distress in patients with depression. Profese Online 2012; 5(2):1-5.
Vidya DC, Sundarnag G, Shalini CN, Harish K, Murthy NS. Spirituality and its association with psychological distress in cancer patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore, India. IJCMPH 2016;3(7):1812-5.
Walsh F. Religion, spirituality, and the family multifaith perspectives. In Walsh F. ed. Spiritual resources in family therapy. 2nd ed. (pp. 3-30). New York: Guilford Publications; 2009.
Mbetbo JN. Internalized conflicts in the practice of religion among Kwandengue Living with HIV in Douala, Cameroun. Cult Health Sex 2013;15(S1): S76-S87.
Foster ML, Arnold E, Rebchook G, Kegeless SM. ‘It’s my inner strength’: spirituality, religion and HIV in the lives of young African American men who have sex with men. Cult Health Sex 2011; 13(9):1003-17.
Tedeschi RG & Calhoun LG. Time of change? The spiritual challenges of bereavement and loss. OMEGA – J Death Dying 2006;53(1-2):105-16.
Burke LA & Neimeyer RA. Spiritual distress in bereavement: evaluation of a research program. Religious 2014;5:1087-115. doi:10.3390/rel5041087
Tuck I, McCain NL, Elswick RK. Spirituality and psychosocial factors in persons living with HIV. JAN 2001;33(6):776-83.
Chaiyasit Y, Kunakote N, Kotta P, Chanbunlawat K, Piboonrungroj P. Predicting factors of spiritual well-being among people living with HIV/AIDS. BMJ 2020;16(1):26-32.
Kohls N & Walach H. Exceptional experiences and spiritual practice–a new measurement approach. Spiritual Health Int. 2006;7(3):125-50.
