The Role of Spirituality in Sustaining the Psychological Well-Being of HIV-Positive Black Women

Braxton, Nikia D.; Lang, Delia L.; Sales, jessica; Wingood, Gina M.; DiClemente, Ralph J.

doi:10.1300/j013v46n02_08

Cited by 36 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…This finding complements not only literature from other studies examining women diagnosed with HIV9,40 but also with other validated measures of religion and spirituality 14. This corroboration is promising for the subsequent validation of the HEALS.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Testing domains of the healing experiences in all life stressors questionnaire in a cohort of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected Chicago women

Mistretta¹,

Sloan²,

BrintzenhofeSzoc³

et al. 2017

PRBM

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PurposePatients may deal with issues of spiritual and religious meaning when coping with life-threatening or chronic illness. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have developed the healing experiences in all life stressors (HEALS) questionnaire, an assessment to determine psychosocial spiritual adjustment to healing. Many measures assess religious and spiritual behavior, but there exists a need to capture the meaning of these factors in the process of healing. The instrument consists of spirituality, religion, interpersonal, and intrapersonal domains. This study explores the preliminary partial validation of the spirituality and religion domains of the HEALS against the Ironson–Woods Spirituality and Religiousness Index (IWSR).MethodsThe abbreviated HEALS, IWSR, and a measure of depression were completed by 205 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and HIV-uninfected women from Chicago as part of the Women’s Interagency HIV Study. Total scores on the HEALS and IWSR were correlated using Pearson correlations to examine convergent validity. Total depression scores were analyzed with Pearson correlations to investigate criterion validity.ResultsResponses between the abbreviated HEALS and IWSR were highly correlated (r=0.74). Similar to other measures of its kind, scores on the HEALS were associated with depressive symptoms. Women with clinically significant depressive symptoms scored significantly lower on the HEALS than women without. No significant differences were found for race, age, education, or HIV status.ConclusionThis study is an important step in the future validation of the HEALS. Results suggest that the spirituality and religion domains of the HEALS have good construct validity with the IWSR. After further validation, this measure may provide clinicians and researchers with a unique way to assess psychosocial spiritual healing.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Testing domains of the healing experiences in all life stressors questionnaire in a cohort of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected Chicago women

Mistretta¹,

Sloan²,

BrintzenhofeSzoc³

et al. 2017

PRBM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The protective role of spirituality among the immigrant women in this study is consistent with a body of literature on immigrants and other groups (Braxton et al, 2008;Connor, 2012;Koenig, 2012;Lake, 2012;Rosmarin, Wachholtz & Ai, 2011;Smith, Webber & DeFrain, 2013;Temane & Wissing, 2006). Shaw, Joseph and Linley proposed that the beneficial role of spirituality and religion in mental health is generated through strong values and beliefs that enhance meaning of life, increase social support, and promote acceptance of difficulties (Shaw, Joseph & Linley, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Factors promoting resilience among Mexican immigrant women in the United States: Applying a positive deviance approach

Torres

Lusk

2018

REF

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This research project used a positive deviance approach to identify Mexican immigrant women (MIW) who have experienced great stress and who have positive mental health indicators in order to determine the factors behind their resilience and coping skills. Signposts, strengths and resources contributing to positive mental health are identified and described. The resilience of participants in this study emerged as a very dynamic phenomenon. A series of internal assets helped these women find meaning, purpose and build resilience. Social networks, families, positive attitudes, and purposeful behaviors determine the strengths and well-being of this group. This may be the first exploration of the mental health assets of MIW. Although the purposive sample in the study limits the generalization of its results, the specificity of its population is a clear point of comparison and reference. The study has implications for the design of health promotion interventions with individuals of Mexican shared ancestry.

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“…The women's faith in Allah and His benevolence helped them to make a positive evaluation of life events; women hoped that, due to their prayers, Allah would change the behavior of their husbands one day. Braxton, Lang, Sales, Wingood, and DiClemente (2007) also noted in their study that spirituality was strongly associated with positive and optimistic feelings in stressful situations. Paradoxically, some studies have shown that a heavy reliance on spiritual coping therapies may undermine women's efforts in taking realistic steps to solve the underlying problem and could also contribute to delay in seeking institutional support (Maman et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Voices of Strength and Struggle

Zakar

Krämer

2012

J Interpers Violence

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This article documents the coping strategies adopted by women victims of spousal violence in Pakistan. By drawing on 21 in-depth interviews conducted in Lahore and Sialkot (Pakistan), we found that the women tried to cope with violence by using various strategies, both emotion focused (e.g., use of religion, placating the husband, etc.) and problem focused (e.g., seeking support from formal institutions, etc.). The data showed that a majority of the women used emotion-focused strategies, especially spiritual therapies, which somehow reduced the violence and provided them with psychosocial solace. Nonetheless, these strategies incurred some costs, such as the consumption of scarce resources, time, and emotional energy. Our data also showed that few women opted for problem-focused strategies, such as seeking help from formal institutions, as these strategies could lead to overt confrontation with their husbands and may result in divorce, the outcome least desired by most of the Pakistani women. We noted that the coping behavior of Pakistani women was complex, subjective, and nonlinear and that the boundaries between emotion-focused and problem-focused strategies were diffuse and blurred. Although the women never surrendered to violence, they were fully aware of their structural limitations and vulnerabilities. Being mindful of the consequences of their actions, women carefully tailored a combination of strategies which could be helpful in resisting or reducing violence but, at the same time, should not be counterproductive. This article argues that Pakistani women alone cannot effectively resist violence while living under a harshly patriarchal regime, where violence against women is embedded in the social, political, and legal structures of society. There are no quick fixes to change the status quo. The Pakistani government, civil society, and formal institutions must proactively support women in reducing their vulnerabilities and facilitate them in expanding their capabilities to address the real causes of violence against them.

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The Role of Spirituality in Sustaining the Psychological Well-Being of HIV-Positive Black Women

Cited by 36 publications

References 43 publications

Testing domains of the healing experiences in all life stressors questionnaire in a cohort of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected Chicago women

Testing domains of the healing experiences in all life stressors questionnaire in a cohort of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected Chicago women

Factors promoting resilience among Mexican immigrant women in the United States: Applying a positive deviance approach

Voices of Strength and Struggle

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