Klaus Baumann

Spiritual Dryness as a Measure of a Specific Spiritual Crisis in Catholic Priests: Associations with Symptoms of Burnout and Distress

Spirituality/religiosity is recognized as a resource to cope with burdening life events and chronic illness. However, less is known about the consequences of the lack of positive spiritual feelings. Spiritual dryness in clergy has been described as spiritual lethargy, a lack of vibrant spiritual encounter with God, and an absence of spiritual resources, such as spiritual renewal practices. To operationalize experiences of “spiritual dryness” in terms of a specific spiritual crisis, we have developed the “spiritual dryness scale” (SDS). Here, we describe the validation of the instrument which was applied among other standardized questionnaires in a sample of 425 Catholic priests who professionally care for the spiritual sake of others. Feelings of “spiritual dryness” were experienced occasionally by up to 40%, often or even regularly by up to 13%. These experiences can explain 44% of variance in daily spiritual experiences, 30% in depressive symptoms, 22% in perceived stress, 20% in emotional exhaustion, 19% in work engagement, and 21% of variance of ascribed importance of religious activity. The SDS-5 can be used as a specific measure of spiritual crisis with good reliability and validity in further studies.

Aspects of spirituality and ideals to help in adolescents from Christian academic high schools

In a recent study, we found that 17-year-old adolescents appreciated most non-formal aspects of spirituality in terms of relational consciousness. Nevertheless, male students expressed a significantly higher self-centeredness than females. By investigating 900 adolescents from Christian academic high schools in the southwest of Germany, the study aimed to further understand aspects of spirituality, particularly with respect to the underlying motives of helping/altruism. Important ideals of helping were found in male and female students (albeit significantly higher in girls), and differential patterns of the altruistic/helping attitudes with respect to distinct aspects of spirituality. The best predictors of the ideal to help were compassion/generosity, conscious interactions, religious orientation, and male gender as a negative predictor. Schools with a circumscribed ethical background could foster these intentions, attitudes and skills. Voluntary ‘Compassion Projects’ and intensified practical school training programs at hospitals, retirement homes, kindergardens, etc, should be encouraged.

Personal Prayer in Patients Dealing with Chronic Illness: A Review of the Research Literature

Background. Prayer is commonly used among patients for health purposes. Therefore, this review focused on three main questions: (1) why do people turn to prayer in times of illness?, (2) what are the main topics of their prayers?, and (3) how do they pray? Method. We undertook a systematic review of the literature by searching the databases PubMed, Medline, and PsycINFO. The following inclusion criteria were used: (1) participants in the study were patients dealing with an illness, (2) the study examined the use of private rather than intercessory prayer, and (3) the content and purpose of prayer rather than its effects were investigated. Results. 16 articles were included in the final review. Participants suffered from a variety of chronic diseases, mostly cancer. Five main categories for the reasons and topics of prayer were found: (1) disease-centered prayer, (2) assurance-centered prayer, (3) God-centered prayer, (4) others-centered prayer, and (5) lamentations. Among these, disease-centered prayer was most common. Conclusions. Although most patients with chronic diseases do pray for relief from their physical and mental suffering, the intention of their prayers is not only for healing. Rather, prayer can be a resource that allows patients to positively transform the experience of their illness.

Spiritual dryness in Catholic priests: Internal resources as possible buffers.

Spiritual dryness is a form of spiritual crisis that can be experienced by religious persons. In a cross-sectional survey among 3,824 Catholic priests, we aimed to analyze the prevalence of spiritual dryness, and its respective predictors. Feelings of spiritual dryness were experienced occasionally by 46%, often or regularly by 12%. Best predictors of spiritual dryness were the (lack of) perception of the transcendent, (low) sense of coherence, depressive symptoms and emotional exhaustion. These variables explain 46% of variance. Loneliness, anxiety, and the personal accomplishment component of burnout added only 1.3% additional variance explanation. Priests’ living situation, social support, lack of social network, self-efficacy expectation, the depersonalization component of burnout, stress perception, and neuroticism were not among the significant predictors in this model. Particularly, the lacking perception of the transcendent and low sense of coherence are of relevance because they are internal resources for which suitable support might be offered.

Altruism in adolescents and young adults: validation of an instrument to measure generative altruism with structural equation modeling

Aim of this study was to develop and test a research instrument to measure generative and functional altruism in adolescents/young adults. In an anonymous questionnaire survey using standardised questionnaires, 873 students were recruited in academic high schools and professional schools. The 7-item Generative Altruism Scale (GALS), which includes affective and behavioural elements, correlated with relevant external measures that correspond with the underlying construct. Confirmatory factor analysis proved an acceptable model fit with characteristics of χ2 [df = 14, N = 846] = 129.946, p < .001, CFI = .91, AIC = 157.946, and SRMR = .048. Female and male students differed significantly with respect to altruism scores (F = 25.5; p < .0001). The GALS could be used for empirical studies analysing the connection between altruism and the development of ethical values and prosocial behaviour. Particularly, compassion as an intrinsic motivator could be fostered in appropriate education programmes.

SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF PTSD PATIENTS IN CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: A QUANTITATIVE PILOT STUDY

BACKGROUND As a result of the wars in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, many people have been affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Considering that religion plays an important role in both of these countries and that religiosity/spirituality can be a positive coping resource, we were interested in investigating the spiritual needs of PTSD patients in these countries. Also, we aimed to compare the spiritual needs of war veterans and civilians with PTSD. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 120 questionnaires were distributed to civilians and veterans with PTSD at one university hospital in Croatia and in Bosnia-Herzegovina, respectively (response rate: 52.2%). The sample ranged in age from 35-61 years (average age: 49±1 years) and was mostly male (77.8%). The Spiritual Needs Questionnaire (SpNQ 2.1) was used. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS. RESULTS Two-thirds of participants identified themselves as religious and exhibited a variety of spiritual needs. The intensity of spiritual needs (i.e., Religious Needs, Existential Needs, Inner Peace Needs, Giving / Generativity Needs; but also Social Support needs) did not significantly differ between veterans and civilians. PTSD patients who identified themselves as non-religious had significantly lower Religious Needs and Existential Needs; there was also a trend to lower Inner Peace Needs. CONCLUSION Regardless of religious identity, PTSD patients in our study expressed several psychosocial, existential and spiritual needs. A holistic approach to treatment of these patients, which includes psychosocial and spiritual aspects, appears meaningful.

Attachment and psychosomatic health among Catholic pastoral professionals

OBJECTIVES The study examines attachment representations and psychosomatic symptoms of Catholic priests and other pastoral professionals in Germany. METHOD We conducted structured biographical interviews with 83 Catholic pastoral professionals (47 priests, 36 lay pastoral workers). Attachment representations were diagnosed by use of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP). Psychosomatic health data (Brief Symptom Inventory - BSI-18) were taken from the associated German Pastoral Ministry Study. RESULTS In the sample, the proportion of secure attachment representations was 23%, of insecure- dismissing 39%, of insecure-preoccupied 18% and of unresolved attachment status 21%. Individuals with secure attachment representation were associated with lower values of psychosomatic stress, while individuals with insecure-dismissing and unresolved attachment status had higher values. DISCUSSION The amount of insecure attachment representations and psychosomatic symptoms is higher than in data from the healthy samples, especially in the cohorts between 1933 and 1945. Data from biographical interviews indicate the significant role of institutional attachment to the Church, in many cases possibly compensating for dysfunctional parental relationships in personal history.

Aspects of Spirituality and Life Satisfaction in Persons With Down Syndrome

ABSTRACT In a cross-sectional survey among 65 persons with Down syndrome, the authors intended to identify emotional and behavioral aspects of spirituality that were of importance to them. Feelings of wondering awe, praying, and church attendance were stated rather seldom, whereas many had frequent experiences of gratefulness. Those living without their parents were more in need of concrete personal relationships and relied on transcendent sources of help. Life satisfaction correlated best with feelings that God is at their side. Although the relational aspects of spirituality were of particular importance to those in our sample, it remains uncertain who can support these essential needs when many of them lack reliable family structures.

Ausdrucksformen der Spiritualität bei Schülern und jungen Erwachsenen

Zusammenfassung Bei 2.468 Schülern (18 ± 2 Jahre) sollten Ausdrucksformen der Spiritualität (ASP) mit Hilfe des ASP-Fragebogens erhoben werden. Im Vordergrund stand die Frage, welche Themenbereiche für sie von Bedeutung sind und welche Zusammenhänge mit sozialem Verhalten und Engagement bestehen. Betrachtet man die Ausprägung der ASP-Faktoren, so zeigte der Faktor Bewusster Umgang / Mitgefühl hohe Zustimmungs-Scores, Suche nach Weisheit / Einsicht und Transzendenz-Überzeugung eher moderate Scores, während die Zustimmungs-Scores für Religiöse Überzeugungen eher gering waren. Da zu vermuten ist, dass bestimmte spirituelle Haltungen und Einstellungen auch gesellschaftlich relevante Auswirkungen haben, wurden korrelative Zusammenhänge mit ethischem Verhalten sowie Engagement für andere untersucht. Hierbei zeigte sich, dass alle ASP-Faktoren, aber insbesondere die Religiöse Orientierung, moderat mit einer nach ethischen Normen ausgerichteten Lebensweise assoziiert sind. Das ehrenamtliche Engagement für andere war moderat nur mit Religiöser Orientierung und Bewusstem Umgang / Mitgefühl, das per se keine dezidiert religiöse Konnotation hat und somit auch für a-religiöse Personen bedeutsam ist, assoziiert.

Coping Mechanisms for Psychosomatic Symptoms among Aging Roman Catholic German priests

To identify and investigate coping mechanisms and other factors which may impact upon the psychosomatic symptoms of aging German Roman Catholic priests. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 499 aging German Roman Catholic priests with standardized questionnaires: Brief Symptom Inventory, Coping Inventory Stressful Situations, and Religious Coping Scale. Task-Oriented Coping exhibited a significant difference between the two groups. Multiple regression analyses indicated that psychosomatic symptoms could be best predicted by means of Task-Oriented Coping mechanisms, identification with priesthood, and by a low Negative Religious Coping. The success of adaptive coping processes for older clergy may depend on how they employ strategies, strengthen their spiritual dimensions, and manage important psychosocial aspects of aging. In our sample, Depression and Somatization are explained best by Emotion-Oriented Coping. It is desirable for aging priests to be aware of protective factors like Role Identification, Task-Oriented Coping, and low Negative Religious Coping, which may be helpful in improving their psychological well-being.