The most influential evidence-based work is by Harold Koenig (2012) who provides a systematic review of 3,300 research studies connecting spirituality to health outcomes, exploring how spiritual beliefs and practices can influence physical, mental, and emotional well-being. His main findings were as follows:

• Spiritual Involvement – Spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, and participation in spiritual communities, are linked to lower rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that spiritual individuals may have lower rates of certain diseases, such as cardiovascular conditions, and experience better overall life satisfaction and resilience. One of the central arguments in Koenig’s work is the idea that spirituality / religion can provide individuals with a sense of meaning, purpose, and social support, all of which are crucial for coping with stress and adversity.

• Mechanisms by which spirituality might influence health outcomes –These include psychological mechanisms (e.g., coping strategies, meaning-making), social support networks, and biological processes such as the regulation of stress hormones and immune function.

• Implications for healthcare practice – The importance of healthcare providers understanding and integrating patients’ spiritual and religious beliefs into care. Koenig advocates for a holistic approach to patient care, one that considers not only the physical but also the psychological, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of health.

In their 2022 study, Balboni et al. conducted a comprehensive systematic review of over 8,000 research articles published between January 2000 and April 2022, to assess the role of spirituality in both serious illness and overall health outcomes.

The study concluded that addressing spirituality within healthcare settings was important. For people with serious illness integrating spiritual care into patient management, the training of interdisciplinary teams and involving specialty practitioners of spiritual care is needed.

The expert panels in the study suggested:

• adopting patient-centred, evidence-based approaches that recognize the benefits of spiritual community participation
• enhancing awareness among health professionals about the protective health associations of spiritual community
• acknowledging spirituality as a social determinant of health in research and community initiatives*

Lisa Miller is a clinical psychologist and Director of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, USA. Her book, ‘The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving’, explores the profound impact of spirituality on children’s mental and physical well-being.

For evidence for the book, Miller uses her own clinical research studies (which focus on academic development of adolescents) and literature review of academic articles on spirituality and childhood.

Her research indicated that children who have a positive, active relationship to spirituality:

• are 40% less likely to use and abuse substances
• are 60% less likely to be depressed as teenagers
• are 80% less likely to have dangerous or unprotected sex
• have significantly more positive markers for thriving including an increased sense of meaning and purpose, and high levels of academic success.

The book is divided into two parts:​

Spirituality in Childhood – Miller examines how spirituality emerges naturally in children and emphasizes the crucial role parents play in recognizing and fostering this aspect of their development. The concept of the “field of love,” is introduced, highlighting that accepting and loving parenting fosters a child’s spirituality, blending parental love with transcendence. She emphasizes that parents don’t need to “make” their children spiritual but should cultivate their spirituality by recognizing and nurturing it.

Spirituality in Adolescence – The author discusses the challenges adolescents face and how a strong spiritual foundation can serve as a protective factor against depression and other mental health issues.​

Miller’s book presents compelling research indicating that nurturing a child’s innate spiritual capacities leads to greater happiness, resilience, and overall thriving.

Note

*SoulSp8ce is such a community initiative! ​

References:

Duke University – Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health – https://spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/publications/crossroads

Koenig HG. Religion, spirituality, and health: the research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry. 2012 Dec

Miller, L. – The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving. Picador, New York 2016

Tracy A. Balboni et al. Spirituality in Serious Illness and Health. Journal of the American Medical Association. July 2022. Scholars@Duke+4Health Sciences Research Commons+4metajournal.com+4Neuroscience News+4metajournal.com+4Harvard Projects+4