Spiritual Perspectives and Health: A Random Survey in a Southern State

Abstract

While multiple studies have shown that there is a relationship between Religion/Spirituality and self reported health, as well as health and spiritual well-being, no studies could be found that correlated spiritual perspectives with Self Reported Health. This study was a part of a random-digit-dialing telephone poll of 452 adult respondents 18 years of age or older in the State of Alabama. The 10-item Spiritual Perspectives Scale (SPS) was used to measure participants’ perceptions of the extent to which they hold certain spiritual views and engage in spiritually-related interactions. Respondents were also asked to rate their health on a four point Likert type scale from poor (1) to excellent (4) (SRH). Significant differences were found for the SPS on age, marital status and rurality. There was a positive correlation between SPS and SRH. Rurality did not show a significant correlation with SRH. Three variables were significantly different on gender: SPS, age and current marital status. However, only three variables were significantly different between men and women: SPS, age, and current marital status. This study adds support to the literature that spirituality is positively related to one’s health and brings to focus the need to pursue the study of the spiritual experience and health connection.