Kohls, N. and Walach, H. (2007) Psychological distress, experiences of ego loss and spirituality: exploring the effects of spiritual practice. Social Behaviour and Personality. 35(10), pp. 1301-1316. 0301-2212.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | The literature supports a positive relationship between spirituality and health. The relationship between spirituality and distress is an underresearched topic. We investigated the relationship between spiritual experiences (SE) and mental distress within two sociodemographically balanced samples (n = 100) of a spiritually practicing (SP) and a nonpracticing sample (NSP) for two points of measurement (t1; t2). Applying linear regression analysis we compared the influence from SEs, as measured with the Exceptional Experiences Questionnaire (EEQ; Kohls & Walach, 2006), towards mental distress measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI; Klaiberg, 2002). A strong association between the EEQ (t1) and the BSI (t1, t2) for the NSP (NSP: R2t1 = .36; R2t2 = .27) was found, but only a weak, relatively moderate one for the SP sample (SP: R2t1 = .07; R2t2 = .16). Path analysis revealed that SP seems to buffer deconstructive spiritual experiences (SP: ßt1 = .06 (ns); ßt2 = .18 (ns); NSP: ßt1 = .52 (p < .01); ßt2 = .39 (p < .01)) but not psychopathological experiences (SP: ßt1 = .20 (p = ns); ßt2 = .33 (p < .01); NSP: ßt1 = .18 (p = ns); ßt2 = .31 (p < .01), although no significant relationship was found for positive spiritual experiences and visionary dream experiences for either sample. Our findings suggest that spiritual practice seems to be a potential buffer for distress derived from experiences of ego loss. Correspondingly, the differentiation between experiences of ego loss and psychopathological experiences seems to be pivotal for understanding the intrapersonal effects of SP |
| Subjects: |
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion > BL624 Religious life. Religious experience B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF204.7 Transpersonal psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC435 Psychiatry > RC512 Psychopathology. Mental disorders |
| Creators: | Kohls, Niko and Walach, Harald |
| Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: |
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences |
| Date: | 2007 |
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Page Range: | pp. 1301-1316 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Social Behaviour and Personality |
| Volume: | 35 |
| Number: | 10 |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 0301-2212 |
| Status: | Published / Disseminated |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| URI: | http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/794 |
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