Spiritual Health, Anxiety and Fear of Childbirth in Iran: Is there Any Relationship?

The most common reason for mothers' request for a cesarean section is fear of childbirth. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between spiritual health and anxiety and fear of childbirth in pregnant women. This correlational cross-sectional study was performed on 426 pregnant women who were referred to Yahyanejad Hospital in Babol, Iran, during 2018-2021. These pregnant women were hospitalized in the maternity ward for vaginal delivery. Convenience sampling bases on inclusion criteria were done to select the subjects. The questionnaires used in this study included Demographic and Obstetric Questionnaire, Anxiety and Fear of Childbirth Questionnaire by Pirdel et al., and Palutzian & Ellison Spiritual Well-being Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 using descriptive and analytical indicators and linear and multiple correlation tests. The results of the study showed that all pregnant women experienced moderate (23.1) or severe (76.9) fear and anxiety, and none of the women had low fear and anxiety. Moreover, all women in this study had moderate (50.5) or high (49.5) spiritual health. The results of linear regression test showed that there is a significant and inverse relationship between spiritual health and anxiety and fear of childbirth (R: - 0.12, CI - 0.14, - 0.019, P = 0.011). Furthermore, the results of multivariate linear regression test after adjustments for intervening demographic and midwifery variables showed a significant relationship between spiritual health (R: - 0.12, CI - 0.14, - 0.02, P = 0.009), education level and number of pregnancies, and anxiety and fear of childbirth. The results of the study showed that with the increase in spiritual health, anxiety and fear of childbirth decreases. Therefore, it can be inferred that women need spiritual care in addition to medical care to deal with fear and anxiety during pregnancy and childbirth.

The relationship between spiritual health and quality of life among COVID-19 patients with long-term complications in the post-coronavirus era.

Objective: COVID-19 has varied manifestations and can cause complications that affect quality of life. Spiritual health may be a source of adaptation for these patients. This study investigated the relationship between spiritual health and quality of life among COVID-19 patients with long-term complications in the post-coronavirus era. Participants/methods: This study enrolled 475 COVID-19 patients through convenience sampling from medical facilities located in the Central Province of Iran. Data collection occurred between November 2022 and July 2023. A demographic checklist was utilized to ascertain the presence of potential COVID-19 complications. Patients exhibiting at least one long-term complication of COVID-19 were classified into the group with complications, while those without such complications were categorized into the group without complications. Subsequently, spiritual health and quality of life were assessed utilizing Paloutzian and Ellison's Spiritual Well-Being Scale and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), respectively. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS-20. Results: The mean scores of spiritual well-being and quality of life for participants without COVID-19 complications were 70.87 ± 22.44 and 61.30 ± 18.33, respectively. In contrast, the mean spiritual health scores and quality of life for participants with COVID-19 complications were 41.20 ± 12.49 and 33.66 ± 1.46, respectively. Moreover, spiritual well-being was positively associated with quality of life among COVID-19 patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicates that COVID-19 complications can impair patients' spiritual health and quality of life, leaving them vulnerable and distressed. However, patients with higher spiritual health can cope better and enjoy a higher quality of life, despite challenges. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of addressing the spiritual needs of patients with COVID-19 complications and providing them with adequate support and care.

Spiritual health under the wartime: existential aspects.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To study the spiritual health in existential dimensions, as well as the meaning, value, and emotional components of spiritual health of Ukrainians under the wartime. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The theoretical and methodological framework of the paper is represented by the works of scholars in classical existentialism, contemporary philosophers, psychologists, medical psychologists, theologians, sociologists, etc. The complex nature of the issue necessitated the use of interdisciplinary approaches, philosophical, general scientific and special sociological methods of gathering, processing and analyzing information. RESULTS: Results: The article analyzes the perception of spirituality and spiritual health related to mental and social aspects in the philosophy of classical existentialism and existential-humanistic psychology. The paper justifies the heuristic potential of these approaches for maintaining spiritual health of Ukrainians, which is based on holistic approaches to human beings and their spiritual frames. The article represents the results of sociological research by the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Scientific Research Institute of Social and Economic Development of the City, and a survey of the PhD students of the Bogomolets National Medical University (N=103) made by the authors, representing the results of statistical treatment of the spiritual health characteristics: emotional, value and meaning components. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The study has shown that the deterioration of mental health indicators of Ukrainians during the war is not accompanied by corresponding negative trends in their spiritual health. However, further research on this issue is necessary, including studies among respondents from other age groups (faculty, staff of the Bogomolets National Medical University).

Spiritual Health and Its Determinants Among Urban Adolescents in Northern India: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Spiritual health is an important dimension of positive health and is often ignored as it is not amenable to measurement. The present study was conducted to generate relevant evidence on spiritual health among adolescents living in urban areas of Northern India. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done from June 2019 - May 2020 in an urban area of Northern India on a sample of 300 adolescents selected purposively. After collection of demographic details of the participants, the Index of Core Spiritual Experiences (INSPIRIT) tool was used to capture their spiritual health. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha for the scale was 0.832 (0.797-0.863) indicating good internal consistency of the measure. As far as spiritual health is concerned, 217 (72.3%) of the study participants scored medium-high to high, followed by 83 (27.7%) who scored medium-low to low on the spiritual health scale. Adjusted multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression showed that positive traits like caring (odds ratio (OR) 1.19, 95% CI: 1.08-1.33), connection to school (OR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04-1.29), having positive identity (OR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.04-1.36) and having highly educated (post-graduate) parents (OR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.13-4.21) lead to significantly higher spiritual health scores.  Discussion: Although spiritual health is not routinely measured among adolescents, the current study demonstrated high levels of spiritual health among half of the urban adolescents. Parental education was found to have a positive association with spiritual health scores, indicating the indirect effect of parental spiritual inclination. The study has important implications for policy, as it demonstrates the feasibility of measuring a covert dimension of health which tends to have an indirect effect on holistic youth development.

The interplay of spiritual health, resilience, and happiness: an evaluation among a group of dental students at a state university in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Dental education is one of the disciplines where students are most significantly affected psychologically. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between spiritual health, resilience and happiness levels of dental students at a state university in Turkey. METHODS: This cross- sectional study included 212 students from the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades of the faculty of dentistry. A questionnaire consisting of 4 sections was used in the study. The sections of the questionnaire include students' general and academic information, Turkish adaptations of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, The Brief Resilience Scale, and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire-Short Form. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS 25 package program. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess the normal distribution of the data. The Mann-Whitney U test was preferred for comparisons between two categorical variables and one numerical variable. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was employed for comparisons involving two categorical variables and one numerical variable. The presence of a relationship between two numerical variables was examined using the Spearman test. RESULTS: In terms of resilience and happiness scores, males had higher scores than females. It was determined that third graders scored higher than fifth graders in harmony with nature scores, and third graders scored higher than fourth graders in deregulation scores. There was a positive correlation between happiness, spiritual well-being and resilience; a negative correlation between happiness and anomie. There was no significant relationship between age and happiness scores. As a result of multiple linear regression to determine the factors affecting happiness; increases in spiritual well-being and resilience will lead to an increase in happiness levels. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that increased levels of spiritual well-being and resilience among a group of dental students would lead to increased levels of happiness. However, further research is needed to understand the relationship between mental health, resilience and happiness levels during dental education.

A mixed-method evaluation of implementation determinants for chaplain intervention in a hospital setting.

Healthcare chaplains address broad social and emotional dimensions of care within a pluralistic religious landscape. Although the development and evaluation of chaplaincy interventions has advanced the field, little research has investigated factors influencing the implementation of new chaplain interventions. In this mixed-method study, we examined attitudes about evidence-based interventions held by chaplain residents (n = 39) at the outset of an ACPE-accredited residency program in the southeast United States. We also used semi-structured interviews (n = 9) to examine residents' attitudes, beliefs, and decision-making processes after they trained in the delivery of a novel manualized intervention, Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health (CCSH). Most residents reported favorable attitudes toward manualized approaches prior to training. Interviews revealed complex decision-making processes and highlighted personal motivations and challenges to learning and implementing CCSH. Implementation science can reveal factors related to motivation, intention, and training that may be optimized to improve the implementation of healthcare chaplaincy interventions.

Investigation of environmental ethics, spiritual health, and its relationship with environmental protection behaviors in nursing students / Investigación sobre ética ambiental, salud espiritual y su relación con comportamientos de protección ambiental en estudiantes de enfermería / Pesquisa sobre ética ambiental, saúde espiritual e sua relação com comportamentos de proteção ambiental em estudantes de enfermagem

Objective.To investigate the relationship between environmental ethics, spiritual health, and environmental behavior among nursing students . Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 200 iranian students from the Chabahar Nursing School were selected using a simple random sampling method. The data collection tool included a questionnaire on demographic information, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards the environment, environmental ethics, and spiritual health. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to evaluate the conceptual framework in this study. Results. The mean score for environmental ethics among nursing students was 65.73±10.61 out of 100. Most of the students (47%) had desirable environmental ethics. The knowledge structure (ß=0.46) predicted attitude. The attitude structure also predicted environmental behavior (ß=0.28) and spiritual health (ß=0.31). Ultimately, the results showed that spiritual health and environmental ethics predict environmental behavior directly and indirectly (p<0.001). Conclusion. Spiritual health and environmental ethics were strong predictors of environmental behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account not only students' spiritual health but also their ethical behaviors to promote environmental protection behaviors in the future.

Objetivo. Investigar la relación entre la ética ambiental, la salud espiritual y el comportamiento ambiental entre los estudiantes de enfermería. Métodos. En este estudio transversal se seleccionaron 200 estudiantes iraníes de la Escuela de Enfermería de Chabahar mediante un método de muestreo aleatorio simple. La herramienta de recogida de datos incluía un cuestionario sobre información demográfica, conocimientos, actitudes y comportamientos hacia el medio ambiente, ética medioambiental y salud espiritual. Se utilizó el modelo de ecuaciones estructurales por mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLS-SEM) para evaluar el marco conceptual de este estudio. Resultados. La puntuación media en ética medioambiental entre los estudiantes de enfermería fue de 65.73±10.61 sobre 100. El 47% de los estudiantes tenían una ética medioambiental deseable. La estructura de conocimientos (0.46) predijo la actitud. La estructura de la actitud también predijo el comportamiento medioambiental (0.28) y la salud espiritual (0.31). En última instancia, los resultados mostraron que la salud espiritual y la ética medioambiental predicen el comportamiento medioambiental directa e indirectamente (p<0.001). Conclusión. La salud espiritual y la ética medioambiental fueron fuertes predictores del comportamiento medioambiental. Por lo tanto, es necesario tener en cuenta no sólo la salud espiritual de los estudiantes, sino también sus comportamientos éticos para promover conductas de protección del medio ambiente en el futuro.

Objetivo. Investigar a relação entre ética ambiental, saúde espiritual e comportamento ambiental entre estudantes de enfermagem. Métodos. Neste estudo transversal, 200 estudantes da Escola de Enfermagem de Chabahar (Irã) foram selecionados usando um método de amostragem aleatória simples. A ferramenta de coleta de dados incluiu um questionário sobre informações demográficas, conhecimento, atitudes e comportamentos em relação ao meio ambiente, ética ambiental e saúde espiritual. A modelagem de equações estruturais por mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS-SEM) foi usada para avaliar a estrutura conceitual deste estudo. Resultados. A pontuação média sobre ética ambiental entre os estudantes de enfermagem foi de 65.73±10.61 de um total de 100. 47% dos estudantes tinham uma ética ambiental desejável. A estrutura de conhecimento (0.46) previu a atitude. A estrutura da atitude também previu o comportamento ambiental (0.28) e a saúde espiritual (0.31). Por fim, os resultados mostraram que a saúde espiritual e a ética ambiental previram o comportamento ambiental direta e indiretamente (p<0.001). Conclusão. A saúde espiritual e a ética ambiental foram fortes preditores do comportamento ambiental. Portanto, é necessário considerar não apenas a saúde espiritual dos alunos, mas também seus comportamentos éticos, a fim de promover comportamentos de proteção ambiental no futuro.

Digital Methods for the Spiritual and Mental Health of Generation Z: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Generation Z (Gen Z) includes individuals born between 1995 and 2012. These individuals experience high rates of anxiety and depression. Most Gen Z individuals identify with being spiritual, and aspects from religion and spirituality can be integrated into mental health treatment and care as both are related to lower levels of depression. However, research on the spiritual and mental health of Gen Z is sparse. To date, there are no systematic or scoping reviews on digital methods to address the spiritual and mental health of Gen Z. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to describe the current state of digital methods to address spiritual and mental health among Gen Z, identify the knowledge gaps, and make suggestions for how to leverage digital spiritual and mental health interventions for Gen Z. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Education Full Text, Google Scholar, SocIndex, and Sociological Abstracts. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) study population born between 1995 and 2012 (ie, Gen Z); (2) reporting on spiritual health or well-being, spirituality or religion, and mental health or well-being; (3) reporting on using digital methods; (4) publication in 1996 or beyond; (5) human subject research; (6) full text availability in English; (7) primary research study design; and (8) peer-reviewed article. Two authors screened articles and subsequently extracted data from the included articles to describe the available evidence. RESULTS: A total of 413 articles were screened at the title and abstract levels, of which 27 were further assessed with full text for eligibility. Five studies met the inclusion criteria, and data were extracted to summarize study characteristics and findings. The studies were performed across 4 different countries. There were 2 mixed-methods studies (South Africa and Canada), 2 cross-sectional studies (China and United States), and 1 randomized controlled trial (United States). Of these studies, only 2 discussed digital interventions (a text messaging-based intervention to improve spiritual and mental health, and a feasibility study for a mental health app). Other studies had a digital component with minor or unclear spiritual and mental health measures. Overall, there was a lack of consistency in how spiritual and mental health were measured. CONCLUSIONS: Few studies have focused on assessing the spiritual and mental health of Gen Z in the digital context, and no research to date has examined a digital spiritual and mental health application among Gen Z. Research is needed to inform the development and evaluation of approaches to address the spiritual and mental health of Gen Z via digital means (eg, mobile apps).

Establishing spirituality as an intermediary determinant of health among 42,843 children from eight countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on the Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) conceptual framework identifies socio-economic position as a structural determinant of health. Recognized intermediary determinants include biological, behavioural, and psychosocial factors. We examined whether connections afforded by a healthy spirituality potentially act as unrecognized intermediary determinants in adolescent populations, contributing to inequities in mental health. Reports from 42,843 children (21,007 boys, 21,836 girls) from eight countries who participated in the 2017-2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study were used to describe correlations between family affluence and positive levels of mental health, using a cross-sectional design. Based on the CSDH conceptual framework and multivariable regression analyses, we then examined whether these associations were mediated by spiritual health. Connections afforded by a high level of spiritual health were universally correlated with positive mental health status. In three Western European nations (England, Scotland, and Wales) and Canada affluence was correlated with better mental health and this was partially mediated by spiritual health. Among the four Eastern European countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland), our findings did not support aspects of the CSDH framework that focus on affluence as a direct determinant of health. Spiritual health potentially is an intermediary determinant of children's health in some Western countries, but not in Eastern countries. The universality of social determinants of health models and the measures used in their evaluation require careful assessment across cultures, political contexts, and health outcomes.

Spiritual Health Consequences from the Iranian Adolescents' Perspective.

Spiritual health is a unique force that can influence the physical, mental, and social dimensions of life. In order to know the positive effects of spiritual health, it is necessary to explain the adolescents' experiences in this area. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate Iranian adolescents' experiences regarding the effects of spiritual health. This study was conducted based on a qualitative approach using content analysis. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 adolescents aged 14-18 years. Subsequently, the obtained data were analyzed using the Graneheim and Lundman method. In total, three major categories emerged from data analysis, including mental health promotion, self-control, and purposefulness in life. Considering the significant effects of spiritual health on adolescents' development, it is essential to pay attention to this dimension of health and develop plans to enhance it.

Perceived Benefits of Magdalena Energy Healing Sessions: An Exploratory Study of Clients' Perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Energy healing techniques are associated with many physical and mental benefits. A qualitative study was conducted to understand clients' experiences of a new energy healing modality called Magdalena Energy Healing. METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted after clients experienced 60 min Magdalena energy healing session(s). Twenty-five adults participated in the study. All participants received Magdalena energy healing from a certified, trained practitioner. Thematic analysis was conducted to determine clients' perceived benefits of the Magdalena energy healing session(s). RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the data: Physical, Mental, Social, and Spiritual Benefits. Physical health benefits included relief from a variety of medical symptoms, improved sleep quality, and physical body awareness. Mental Health benefits included relaxation and peace, decision-making clarity, relief of mental health symptoms, and an increased ability to cope with life. Social Benefits included improved attitudes in relationships. Spiritual Benefits included optimism, gratitude, self-acceptance, and increased spiritual connection. CONCLUSIONS: Participants' perceptions are that Magdalena energy healing sessions offer peace, symptom relief, and gratitude. Magdalena energy healing can address priorities of The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Sessions can be seamlessly integrated into traditional medical care as a useful complementary/integrative healing option to improve physical, mental, and/or spiritual wellbeing across a variety of diseases.

Medicinal plants and foods with metaphorical concepts in Rumi's "Masnavi Manavi": The psychosomatic approach to human health.

Objective: "Masnavi Manavi" is one of the most valuable texts of Persian literature. In this book, Rumi (Mevlana) with a unique method and in the form of moral stories teaches life lessons, mystical truths and even therapeutic advices to people. The aim of this study is to highlight the medicinal plants and foods that had been applied both in somatic and spiritual concept in "Masnavi Manavi' poems. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, a library-based, descriptive and analytical method was used. Results: Some medicinal plants and food terms such as rose-water, vinegar, honey, oxymel, common reed, grape, onion, garlic and wheat are mentioned in this study to show Rumi's metaphorical and therapeutic approach as a doctor who treats both soul and body. In fact, Rumi's intention to apply these terms was to express his ideas and views about the inseparability of physical and spiritual aspects in human health and well-being. Conclusion: Rumi focus in "Masnavi Manavi" moral stories is the soul health and consider body as carrier of the soul. Therefore, because of this psychosomatic approach to human disease, he selects the most suitable herbs and foods for explaining spiritual and somatic medicine.

Effects of traditional Chinese culture-based bibliotherapy on the spiritual health of patients with liver cancer.

BACKGROUND: Liver cancer is a serious global health problem and is associated with poor spiritual health. Bibliotherapy is beneficial in improving health outcomes in cancer patients, yet there is a lack of empirical evidence of its effect on the spiritual health of liver cancer patients in China. The study aimed to investigate the effects of bibliotherapy based on Chinese traditional culture on the spiritual health of patients with liver cancer in China. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hunan Normal University School of Medicine and registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the registration (No: 2021260), which registration in June 30th 2021. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with liver cancer were divided into the intervention group (n = 30) and the control group (n = 30) through WeChat. The intervention group received bibliotherapy therapy based on traditional Chinese culture, while the control group received routine care. Spiritual health was assessed using the Spiritual Attitude and Involvement List (SAIL) and compared before and after the intervention between the two groups. The chi-square test and t-test were used to analyze the intervention effects. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable in all baseline characteristics including the SAIL score. After 5 weeks of intervention, the score of SAIL increased significantly from 96.76 ± 15.08 to 106.93 ± 13.82 in the intervention group (t = - 29.380, p < 0.001), while no significant difference in SAIL score was observed in the control group (from 95.27 ± 16.40 to 95.31 ± 16.24, t = - 0.189, p = 0.852). Similar patterns were also observed in its three dimensions of connecting with oneself, connecting with the environment, and connecting with transcendence. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that bibliotherapy based on traditional Chinese culture using the WeChat platform can greatly improve the spiritual health of patients with liver cancer and has the potential to be widely applied to cancer patients to improve their well-being.

Status and influential factors of spiritual well-being in cancer patients with drug clinical trials: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the spiritual well-being status of cancer patients in drug clinical trials and its influencing factors, and to provide theoretical support for the spiritual health intervention of clinical trial cancer patients. METHODS: This cross-section study was conducted among 244 cancer patients in clinical trials. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Short Form (MSAS-SF), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 (CD-RISC 10), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual (FACIT-SP-12) were used to measure symptom burden, psychological resilience, and spiritual well-being. The Multiple Linear Regression Model was used to determine the influencing factors of patients' spiritual health. RESULTS: The overall spiritual health level of cancer patients with clinical trials was high (36.87 ± 11.0), and the spiritual health level was positively correlated with psychological resilience (r = 0.872, P < 0.001). Religious belief, nationality, treatment regimen, and resilience were independent risk factors for the spiritual health of cancer patients in clinical trials. Patients with religious beliefs (ß = 0.097, P = 0.012), ethnic minorities (ß = 0.087, P = 0.023), and high resilience scores (ß = 0.874, P < 0.001) had higher levels of spiritual health. Patients who received single antineoplastic therapy (ß = - 0.079, P = 0.028) had lower levels of spiritual health. CONCLUSION: Our study found that the spiritual health of cancer patients in clinical trials was at a high level, superior to cancer patients receiving conventional anti-tumor therapy. Religious belief, nationality, treatment regimen, and psychological resilience were the influential factors of spiritual health.

Impact of a spiritual care program on the sleep quality and spiritual health of Muslim stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Stroke patients often experience poor sleep quality and spiritual health due to complications and limitations. In this situation, implementing spiritual care may reduce these problems. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of a spiritual care program on sleep quality and spiritual health of Muslim stroke patients. METHODS: This was a two-group randomized clinical trial conducted in Hamadan, Iran, in 2021, with 117 stroke patients. The samples were selected by convenience sampling and assigned to experimental (N = 59) and control (N = 58) groups based on random permutation blocks. The data were collected using the demographic information form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Paloutzian and Ellison Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and the Modified Rankin Scale before and one month after the intervention. The experimental group received five daily sessions of spiritual care for 45-60 min based on standard and local methods, including patient orientation and identification of spiritual needs, religious care, supportive spiritual care, and beneficial evaluations. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, and paired t-test at 0.05 significance level in SPSS 21. RESULTS: The socio-demographic characteristics were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). At baseline, there was no significant difference in sleep quality and spiritual health between the experimental and control groups (p > 0.05). However, after the intervention, the sleep quality and spiritual health of patients in the experimental group improved significantly compared with the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The spiritual care program improved sleep quality and spiritual health of stroke patients; therefore, nurses should consider these aspects to provide holistic care.

The anxiety associated with COVID-19, general health, spiritual health, and job satisfaction in healthcare providers: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown the impact of pandemic communicable diseases on the mental health of healthcare providers. This study examined the relationship between general health, spiritual health, anxiety associated with COVID-19, job satisfaction, and the mediating role of sex in healthcare providers in Iran in 2021. METHODS: This was a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study performed on 163 healthcare providers of which 71.8% were female and 28.2% were male with an age range between 21 and 58 years, an average work experience of 9.5 years, and working as nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, etc. in some hospitals in Sanandaj. Data were collected using COVID-19 Anxiety, General Health, job satisfaction, and Spiritual Health questionnaires. Then, the data were analyzed using SPSS-22 software, regression test, and path analysis. RESULTS: Although women averaged lower levels of general health, job satisfaction, and anxiety associated with COVID-19, and higher scores in spiritual health than men, none of these differences were statistically significant, and sex didn't play a significant role here. Also, general health and spiritual health could significantly predict 17.1% of the variance in job satisfaction in the path analysis. However, sex and Covid-19 anxiety could not significantly predict this variable. CONCLUSION: The results showed that there was not a significant difference between the male and female workers' general health when facing such pandemics. However, we may prepare interventions to promote their general and spiritual health and to promote healthcare providers' job satisfaction during such pandemics.

Connections associated with a healthy spirituality: are these unrecognized intermediary determinants that shape health inequities in Canadian young people?

BACKGROUND: The health of adolescents is determined by structural and intermediary factors. Such factors operate through pathways that foster different opportunities to achieve health and wellbeing, contributing to inequities. Past analyses of cross-national adolescent health data show that measures of child spirituality, conceptualized as the strength of the connections in our lives, may operate as intermediary determinants in some Western countries. Inspired by this idea, the current analysis provides an in-depth exploration of such pathways among Canadian adolescents. Our objectives were to confirm the existence of relationships between economic position and seven indicators of adolescent health status, then explore whether any observed inequities could be explained by the strength of connections afforded by a healthy spirituality. METHODS: Cycle 8 of the Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study was conducted in 2017-18. A school-based sample (n = 18,962) of adolescents was obtained from across Canada following a standard cross-national protocol. Eligible participants completed a general survey about their health, health behaviours and their determinants. Survey data were used to model the potential effect of perceived levels of relative affluence on each of seven health indicators. Comparison of crude and adjusted relative risks estimates from weighted log-binomial regression models provided evidence of indirect mediating effects attributable to each of four domains of spirituality. RESULTS: As perceived levels of family affluence increased, the percentages of young people who reported each (7/7) of the negative health outcomes decreased. The spiritual health domain "connections to self" (i.e., the importance of meaning, purpose, joy and happiness in life) mediated the strength of relationships between relative affluence and each (7/7) of the outcomes in boys and girls. "Connections to others" (the importance of kindness, respect and forgiveness) mediated the strength of relationships between relative affluence and each (7/7) of the outcomes among girls. Inconsistent evidence of possible mediation was identified for connections to others in boys, as well as the other two domains of spirituality (connections to nature, then connections to the transcendent) in boys and girls. CONCLUSION: Specific connections afforded by a healthy spirituality could be intermediary determinants of health in Canadian adolescent populations.

Investigating the Relationship Between Spiritual Health, Meaning in Life, and Death Attitudes among COVID-19 Patients Discharged from ICUs: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to affect both physical and mental health. Because of this mental health burden, it is important to pay attention to issues such as the relationship between spiritual health, death attitudes and meaning in life - all issues made more prominent during the pandemic. This study was conducted to determine the correlation between these three factors - spiritual health, meaning in life, and death attitudes, among patients with COVID-19 discharged from the intensive care units of hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted between April 2020 and August 2021 with 260 participants. The data collection instruments were a demographic characteristics questionnaire, Polotzin and Ellison's Spiritual Health Questionnaire, The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), and Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R).The correlation between meaning in life, spiritual health, and death attitudes was determined by Spearman's correlation coefficient. The research results showed that there is an inverse and significant correlation between spiritual health and death attitudes (p = 0.01); an inverse, but insignificant correlation between existential health and subscales of death attitudes, except for the subscales of approach acceptance and neutral acceptance (p > 0.05); and an inverse, but insignificant, correlation between spiritual health and death attitudes, (p > 0.05). In addition, there was an inverse and significant correlation between the presence of meaning in life and escape acceptance (p = 0.002); an inverse and significant correlation between the search for meaning in life and neutral acceptance (p = 0.007); and an inverse and significant correlation between the meaning in life and death attitudes (p = 0.04). Besides, the findings showed an inverse but insignificant correlation between all spiritual health subscales and the meaning in life subscales (p > 0.05). Spiritual health has an inverse correlation with death attitudes.Also, there is an inverse correlation between the total score of spiritual health and death attitudes. Regarding the subscales of spiritual health, there is an inverse correlation between existential health and death attitudes subscales, except for approach acceptance and neutral acceptance. Also, the results showed an inverse and significant correlation between meaning in life and death acceptance and avoidance subscales, and there was an inverse and significant correlation between the meaning in life and death attitudes. Finally, the increase in spiritual health reduces patients' risks of thinking about death. The research results double the significance of the role of nurses, especially those dealing with critically ill patients and those who have experienced severe disease conditions.

Relationships between spiritual health and perceived stress with breastfeeding adequacy in mothers with infants aged 1-6 months.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that psycho-spiritual state of mothers may have significant effects on their breastfeeding. The most common cause of nonexclusive breastfeeding is inadequate breastfeeding; therefore, this study examined the relationship between spiritual health and perceived stress with breastfeeding adequacy in mothers with infants aged 1-6 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study was performed on 186 mothers with infants aged 1-6 months, who referred to the health centers in Dorud city of Lorestan province, Iran, in 2021, which were selected based on cluster sampling. Data were collected through four questionnaires including demographic-fertility, spiritual health, perceived stress, and breastfeeding adequacy. Data was analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22 using descriptive and analytical statistics. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) values of spiritual health, perceived stress, and breastfeeding adequacy were 99.59 ± 12.96, 23.8 ± 72.19, and 55.67 ± 7.67, respectively. There was a significant positive relationship between spiritual health and breastfeeding adequacy (P < 0.001, r = 0.268). In addition, there was a significant negative relationship between perceived stress and breastfeeding adequacy (P = 0.002, r = -0.231). CONCLUSION: Breastfeeding adequacy has a significant positive relationship with spiritual health and a significant negative relationship with perceived stress. Since infants are one of the most vulnerable groups and breastfeeding is the best way to support their health and reduce infant mortality rates, breastfeeding adequacy can be improved by reducing stress and promoting spiritual health.

Factors Influencing Spiritual Health among Nursing Students in the Prolonged COVID-19 Situation.

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only an epidemiological crisis but also a spiritual health crisis that affects nursing students. Spiritual health is essential in maintaining and promoting physical and mental health to achieve happiness, potential, meaning, and purpose of life even during a pandemic. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to examine factors affecting spiritual health of nursing college students. The study adheres to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. A total of 219 nursing students from three nursing colleges in Metropolitan D city participated in the study through an online Google Form questionnaire from 2-18 September 2021. The mean score of spiritual health was 96.98 ± 11.54 (out of 120 points); spiritual health was significantly positively correlated with life satisfaction and academic performance (p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with academic stress (p < 0.001). Factors significantly affecting spiritual health were academic stress (ß = -2.21, p = 0.045), life satisfaction (ß = 3.85, p < 0.001), and academic performance; below score of 3.0 (ß = -2.08, p = 0.039). The explanatory power of these effects was 30.7%. As a future professional nurse who will work in the clinical field where the demand for the spiritual care of patients is increasing, it is necessary to develop and apply a curriculum that can improve the spiritual health of nursing students.