Current Mental Health Clients’ Attitudes Regarding Religion and Spirituality in Treatment: A National Survey

Abstract

Over the last several years, there has been a growing interest in clients’ views toward integrating their religion and spirituality (RS) into mental health treatment. However, most of these studies have been limited to small samples and specific populations, regions, and/or clinical issues. This article describes the first national survey of current mental health clients across the US regarding their attitudes towards integrating their RS in treatment using a revised version of the Religious/Spiritually Integrated Practice Assessment Scale-Client Attitudes, version 2 (RSIPAS-CAv2) with a sample of 989 clients. Our findings indicate mental health clients have overwhelmingly positive attitudes regarding integrating their RS into mental health treatment. Additionally, we explored what background characteristics predict clients’ attitudes toward this area of practice and found the top predictor was their intrinsic religiosity, followed by whether they had previously discussed RS with their current provider, age, gender, organized and non-organized religious activities, belief in God/Higher Power, and frequency of seeing their mental health provider. The reliability and validity of the RSIPAS-CAv2 was also explored and this scale is recommended for future use. Implications and recommendations for practice, research, and future training efforts are discussed.

A quasi-experimental study of an adjunctive, online psychoeducational module on religious coping for Christian outpatients with depression or anxiety.

“…Inclusion of an qualitative part in the single case design may also be interesting, as it may provide in-depth information about if and how the E-RC module may benefit on an individual level. In general-not only in a Christian context-we think that the relationship between negative religious coping and well-being, although this study showed relative small effects, support the notion of openness among mental health care professionals regarding religious issues into treatment (Oxhandler et al, 2021;van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse et al, 2019). And perhaps more important, early identification of individuals experiencing religious struggles in order to avert the harmful effects of negative religious coping patterns, for example, trough taking a spiritual history (Koenig et al, 2020b).…”

“…Based on the above, it is logical to hypothesize that supporting patients’ positive ways of religious coping in a structured treatment package may yield clinical benefits that supplement standard methods of psychological practice. In addition, many religious patients express a desire to have their religious beliefs considered in psychotherapy (Oxhandler et al, 2021; Rose et al, 2001). This is even more the case among people who are highly committed to their faith, like orthodox Christians or those specifically seeking Christian care (van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse et al, 2019; Worthington et al, 1996).…”

Psychological Assessment Involving Spirituality With Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

“…Religiosity and/or spirituality have been linked to positive outcomes, it has been noted as a significant strength to clients (Oakes & Raphael, 2008;Oxhandler et al, 2021). Research has found that spiritual beliefs and practices can be a protective factor against substance use, stress, and health problems (Dansby, Hayes & Schleiden, 2017;Giordano, Prosek, & Hastings, 2016).…”

Improving psychiatric nurses’ competencies in spiritual care and integration of clients’ religion/spirituality into mental healthcare: outcomes of an online spiritual care training program

“…As a result, many healthcare professionals, such as psychiatric nurses, have focused on the potential integration of clients' R/S in mental healthcare [1,2]. In other words, psychiatric nurses should be prepared to ethically address R/S issues and spiritual care (SC) as part of holistic and patient-centered care in mental health settings and to gain the required competencies in SC and integration of clients' R/S into practice [6].…”