Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
March 9, 2026
Fatih Bal
The “God gene” hypothesis has attracted attention in the literature as an approach suggesting that religious and spiritual tendencies in individuals may have a genetic basis. Dean Hamer’s hypothesis claims that the VMAT2 gene may be related to a predisposition toward mystical experiences through its role in regulating monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine....
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
May 18, 2025
Jeffrey Overall
ABSTRACT In this study, I investigate the transformative potential of online spiritual retreats by analyzing participant experiences from a 7-day virtual program integrating continuous self-inquiry, meditation, and breathwork. Fifty-six participants completed a post-retreat integration and feedback form designed to elicit reflective insights into their contemplative experiences. Using grounded...
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
April 9, 2025
Sheetal Goyal, Prasanna Krishna Bg, V.V.V. Pradeep Sastry et al.
ABSTRACT Our study investigated the effects of guided group meditation sessions on the psychological parameters of depression, stress, anxiety and anger. The present study of 212 participants followed a mixed methods approach. Data was collected using standardized psychological scales and qualitative interview pre- and post-group meditation. Findings revealed a statistically significant...
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
September 11, 2024
Tenneson Boatsi, Veronica M. Dwarika
ABSTRACT Spirituality involves being in harmony with the cosmos or nature and a willingness to engage in good works for the sake of mankind; for instance, love for one another, care for the environment, and the production and protection of the common good for society. Spirituality could also be defined as the connectedness with nature or the cosmos, seeing beyond the circumstances of one’s...
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
February 16, 2023
Monali Bhattacharya, Kamna Gaur
ABSTRACT This paper discusses the relevance and experience of Pure Consciousness through a technique called Transcendental Meditation (TM). It posits the idea that this technique of meditation can prove to be a useful spiritual tool during the current pandemic and talks about its effects on education, mental health, as well as physical health through a review of scientific studies on TM. It...
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
January 22, 2022
S. Malviya, P. Meredith, Barbra Zupan et al.
ABSTRACT This systematic review of randomized controlled trials investigated the effects of two religious/spiritual (R/S) practices (breathwork and chanting) on mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms). After registering with PROSPERO (CRD42020136645), a systematic search of four major databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and...
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
September 28, 2018
Sophie Hannah Lewis, Chris Sanderson, Anjula Gupta et al.
7 citations
First-person accounts of voice hearing are scarce. This research aims to explore the role of spirituality in the sense-making process of hearing voices. Five semistructured interviews explored experiences of spirituality and hearing voices. Qualitative data was analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three superordinate themes were identified: need for connection, values...
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
June 8, 2018
N. Tassell-Matamua, K. Frewin
ABSTRACT Increasingly reported in contemporary times, exceptional human experiences (EHEs) are unusual spontaneous occurrences deviating from common perceptions about the nature of reality. Previous literature attests to the transformative influence EHEs exert on those who have them, which can include feeling a greater sense of spirituality. Our study investigated the relationship between EHEs...
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
July 3, 2015
S. Selvam
4 citations
There is an increasing interest in studying the association between spirituality and addiction, and the effect of mindfulness on recovery. There have been some attempts at exploring the mediators of the association, but seldom in the context of Christian contemplation and rarely within a single theoretical framework of psychology. This article reports two case studies from an intervention study...
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
October 1, 2011
Linda Mayorga Miller, Terry Lynn Gall, Lise Corbeil
13 citations
The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of the subjective experience of prayer with a sacred object within the context of a significant life stressor. Ten individuals, men and women, from the Catholic faith participated in semistructured interviews. Interview transcripts were read thoroughly and descriptive meaning units were extracted and analyzed for common...
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
July 1, 2011
Terry Lynn Gall, Judith Malette, Manal Guirguis‐Younger
145 citations
This study explored the viewpoints of 234 participants from various nationalities on the definition of spirituality and religiousness. Several universal themes emerged from the phenomenological analysis of participants' definitions. Spirituality was primarily viewed as an integral part of one's identity and the personal experience of the transcendent whether it is defined traditionally as God...
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health
May 12, 2009
Linda Bell
14 citations
This article focuses on meditation and the benefits it can bring to psychotherapy practice, both through the person of the therapist and as therapeutic method. A regular meditation practice supports the clarity of mind that the therapist brings to his or her work and can thus greatly impact both the quality and usefulness of the work, as well as the health of the therapist. The relationship...