Spirituality in pain medicine: A randomized experiment of pain perception, heart rate and religious spiritual well-being by using a single session meditation methodology

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate different effects on pain perception among randomly assigned volunteers practicing meditation compared to a relaxation condition. The study examines whether participants of the experimental conditions (meditation versus relaxation) differ in the change of pain perception and heart rate measurement and in religious and spiritual well-being after an intervention. Method: 147 volunteers (long-term practitioners and novices) were randomly assigned to the experimental conditions with a headphone guided 20-minute single session intervention. The change in their pre- and post-intervention pain perception was measured using Quantitative Sensory Testing and Cold Pressor Testing (CPTest), their stress-level was compared by monitoring heart rate, and their religious and spiritual well-being by using the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being (MI-RSB48). Additionally, dimensions of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) measured the psychological resilience of the participants; pain and stress experience, and the state of relaxation and spirituality experience were assessed. Five persons were excluded due to failure in measuring the heart rate and 29 participants had to be excluded because of high values on the BSI. Results: The meditation group showed an increase in their pain tolerance on the CPTest and a decrease in their pain intensity for heat after the experimental condition, in contrast to the relaxation group. Futhermore, the meditation group showed a higher level of religious spiritual well-being (MI-RSB48 Total score) as well as in the sub-dimensions General Religiosity, Forgiveness, and Connectedness after the experimental condition, compared to the relaxation group. Our data is consistent with the hypothesis that meditation increases pain tolerance and reduces pain intensity, however, further work is required to determine whether meditation contains similar implications for pain patients.

“Test Your Spirituality in One Minute or Less” Structural Validity of the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being Short Version (MI-RSWB 12)

“…Based on the limited findings of previous research, it can be assumed that the RSWB dimensions can be changed in principle. However, these dimensions may need to be specifically addressed by means of a uniquely developed treatment protocol (e.g., Sollgruber et al, 2018 ).…”

Gender Differences in Psychosocial, Religious, and Spiritual Aspects in Coping: A Cross-Sectional Study with Cancer Patients

“…26 Studies have demonstrated reduced feelings of pain, fatigue, and anxiety in people with R/S practices. [27][28][29] Research has highlighted the crucial role of religious coping in men and women with cancer. However, little is known about the gender differences in religious coping with cancer.…”

The Correlation Between Spiritual Health With the Coping Ability of the Clients Towards the Pain in the Labour Process Within the Work Area of Ibrahim Adjie’s Community Center in Bandung 2019

“…The results of the validity test with Pearson Product-Moment on the independent variables showed that there were three invalid questions, namely numbers 1,5 and 8 with validity levels moderate to very high (0.50 -0.90). The dependent variable test results showed 9 numbers namely items 5,10,12,13,16,17,18,19,20 issued, the rest are used for instruments with the validity moderate to high (0.40 -0.80). The reliability test by Cronbach's Alpha of Pain Management Strategy as the dependent variable showed the result as 0.874 (good) and 0.964 (excellent) for the independent variable (spiritual health condition).…”

“…Also, giving birth is an experience of spiritual transformation [19]. Spirituality does not work with the intensity of the pain, but it could increase the ability to tolerate the pain [20]. So, the ability to manage the pain requires knowledge, techniques and practice to be trained.…”