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Exploring the therapeutic potential of religious and spiritual practices a qualitative inquiry of religious spiritual experts960.58 kB
Published Version (Advanced Access)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Exploring the therapeutic potential of religious and spiritual practices: a qualitative inquiry of religious/spiritual experts
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, Vol.Advanced access
2025
Abstract
With evidence that some religious/spiritual practices have positive effects on mental health in both clinical and non-clinical populations, it is tempting to introduce these practices into clinical mental health settings. Before using religious/spiritual practices with people with diverse or no religious/spiritual backgrounds, however, it is important to understand the relevance of the religion or spiritual tradition from which they originate. Gaining information from religious/spiritual experts about the relevance of the religious affiliation is important in considering the extent to which the mental health benefits of these practices are influenced by adherence to these traditions and, therefore, if these practices can be effectively used as mental health interventions. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with religious/spiritual experts from 12 different religions and spiritual traditions. Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: (1) “No need for any religious/spiritual beliefs”; (2) The added advantage of the religious/spiritual affiliation; (3) Concerns and recommendations. Findings revealed that, while religious/spiritual practices may support mental health when used outside the religious/spiritual context, they may be more beneficial when used within a religion and spiritual tradition. Experts emphasized the importance of carefully evaluating the practice’s acceptability within the target population. The need for mental health professionals to be trained to use religious/spiritual practices as mental health interventions was also identified.
Details
- Title
- Exploring the therapeutic potential of religious and spiritual practices: a qualitative inquiry of religious/spiritual experts
- Authors
- Shikha Malviya (Corresponding Author) - Central Queensland UniversityBarbra Zupan - Central Queensland UniversityPamela Meredith - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Occupational Therapy
- Publication details
- Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, Vol.Advanced access
- Publisher
- Routledge
- DOI
- 10.1080/19349637.2025.2559602
- ISSN
- 1934-9645; 1934-9637
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Occupational Therapy; Cancer Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991164011302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
15 Record Views
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Psychology, Applied