“Maybe it’s kind of normal to hear voices”: The role of spirituality in making sense of voice hearing
Sophie Hannah Lewis, Chris Sanderson, Anjula Gupta, Claire Brito Klein
Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health September 28, 2018 DOI: 10.1080/19349637.2018.1520183 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | People who hear voices and have experiences of spirituality |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key findings | The authors suggest that spirituality plays a role in how people make sense of hearing voices, with themes of connection, self-identity, and meaning-making. They propose that clinical interventions for distressing voice hearing should acknowledge this sense-making and include conversations about spirituality, and that future research should compare spiritual voices with those associated with "psychosis." |
Abstract
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 about self and identity, and making sense. The findings suggest a relationship between spirituality and voice hearing, and relate to the need for belongingness and self-identity. Acknowledging the sense making process and engaging in conversations about spirituality are implicated when providing clinical interventions for distressing voice hearing. Future research could explore further the differences between voices associated with spiritual experiences and “psychosis.”