Spirituality, Marriage, and Family

Abstract

Whether viewved as part of culture, a subset of belief systems, or a constructivist languaging system, spirituality is gaining increased attention among marriage and family therapists. This research review first compares religion and spirituality, defines spirituality, and then reviews spirituality research in relation to marital satisfaction, healthy marital and family functioning, assessment, and clinical practice. The article concludes with a brief summary of questions warrantingfurther research.

Addressing Spiritual Issues From a Cultural Perspective: The Case of the Grieving Filipino Boy

“…Other writers have pointed out that the term spirituality refers to the belief in a reality that transcends the physical nature of the world and provides individuals with an "extra-ordinary'' meaning of life in general and human existence in particular (Gartner, Larson, & Allen, 199 1;Giblin, 1996).…”

“…this definition by noting that the concept of spirituality is typically "grounded in an affirmation of the transcendence or 'otherness' that is reflected within the boundaries of everyday culture and is commonly manifested in identifiable religious forms pointing beyond the boundaries of the ordinary and tangible" (p. 3). Other writers have pointed out that the term spirituality refers to the belief in a reality that transcends the physical nature of the world and provides individuals with an "extra-ordinary'' meaning of life in general and human existence in particular (Gartner, Larson, & Allen, 199 1;Giblin, 1996).…”

Integrating Spirituality into Family Therapy Training: An Exploration of Faculty Members’ Beliefs

“…Walsh and Pryce (2003) define spirituality as being connected to nature, works of art, literature, and music in a way that unites humanity. For Giblin (1996), spirituality is related to experiences of growth, energy, freedom, and the ability to connect to more parts of the self, others, and life. Additionally, Rivett and Street (2001) define spirituality as something that ''encompasses the individual's beliefs concerning his or her link with the universe'' (p. 460).…”

“…At times spirituality and religion are used interchangeably, while others argue that spirituality and religion are separate constructs (Becvar, 1997;Carlson et al, 2002;Prest & Keller, 1993;Plante & Sherman, 2001). The rationale for separating the two terms is that a person can be spiritual without belonging to a religious community or participating in religious rituals (Giblin, 1996;Wolf & Stevens, 2001). In an attempt to be more inclusive of persons who may not consider themselves religious or who do not belong to a specific religious community, the focus of this study was on spirituality.…”

“…While research and writing on spirituality in the field of marriage and family therapy (MFT) is still in its infancy, in the past decade a growing body of literature on this topic has emerged (Anderson, & Worthen, 1997;Becvar, 1997;Carlson, Kirkpatrick, Hecker, & Killmer, 2002;Giblin, 1996;Haug, 1998a;Moules, 2000;Prest, Russel, & D'Souza, 1999;Walsh, 1999;Walsh & Pryce, 2003). However, very little empirical research that explores the role of spirituality in the MFT field has been conducted.…”