Without my faith, I could not do this work here

Does spiritual orientation have an impact on the subjective burden of people who deal professionally with dying patients?

  • Gerlinde Geiss
  • Wilfried Belschner
  • Rita Oldenbourg
Keywords: spirituality, transpersonal trust, dying, death, death grant, stress, strain, resource

Abstract

Professionals who care for critically ill and dying people have to cope with particular challenges. In the study presented a total of 472 professionals (medical doctors, nurses, psychologists, clergymen, honorary volunteers) from different institutions (oncology and palliative stations, intensive care units, nursing homes, hospices and outpatient care services) were interviewed. In this article the impact of spirituality (measured as transpersonal trust) on reported stress, individual well being, and attitudes toward death is analysed. The results give evidence for the psychological and economic value of transpersonal trust for all listed topics. For the future it is recommended to integrate spirituality much more in the curricula of professionals in health care.

Author Biographies

Gerlinde Geiss

graduate psychologist, *1973, studied at the University of Regensburg and Wesleyan University, USA. Since 2001 she has known. Research assistant in the Department of Health and Clinical Psychology at the University of Oldenburg. Head of the research project "Stress and Exoneration Factors in Critical Illness and Dying Processes" (with participation of the BMGS). Basic training in conversational and body psychotherapy, training in voluntary hospice work, further training in "Psychosocial Oncology".

Wilfried Belschner

Prof. Dr., Dipl.-Psych., *1941. Since 1974 Univ.-Prof. for Psychology at the University of Oldenburg. Fields of teaching and research: Health & clinical psychology, public health, consciousness research. Students of Qigong and Zen. Publications on the importance of the consciousness dimension. Editor of the publication series Psychology of Consciousness. Scientific director of the university outpatient clinic for teaching and research and of the contact study Qigong. 1st Chairman of the German College for Transpersonal Psychology and Psychotherapy.

Rita Oldenbourg

cand.-psych., *1977, since 2004 member of the research project "Burden and relief factors in critical illness and dying processes", training in voluntary hospice work, scholarship holder of the Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst. Farmer.

Published
2005-08-03
Issue
Vol. 11 No. 2 (2005): Issue 2/2005
Section
Artikel