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Understanding and Assessing Spiritual Health

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International Handbook of Education for Spirituality, Care and Wellbeing

Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Religion and Education ((IHRE,volume 3))

Abstract

Attempts at defining spirituality vacillate between the human and the divine. However, many studies show relationships between spirituality or religion and health. An extensive literature search and a study of almost 100 educators in four different types of schools led to a model in which spiritual health is understood to be a, if not the, fundamental dimension of health, permeating and integrating the other dimensions of health (physical, mental, emotional, social, and vocational). The quality of relationships experienced between each person and themselves, others, the environment and God indicate their state of spiritual health in each of these four domains. This model provided the basis for various assessments of spiritual health/well-being among school and university students and staff in Australia and the United Kingdom. The Spiritual Health in Four Domains Index, Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure, Feeling Good Living Life and Quality of Influences Survey were developed for these and other studies in spiritual health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of Ballarat, Vic 3353, Ballarat, Australia

    John W. Fisher

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  1. John W. Fisher
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Correspondence to John W. Fisher .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National School of Religious Education, Australian Catholic University, 1200 Mair St, Ballarat Campus, 3350, Ballarat, VIC, Australia

    Marian de Souza

  2. Warwick Inst. Education, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, Coventry, UK

    Leslie J. Francis

  3. School of Education Studies, Dublin City University, Dublin, Glasnevin, Ireland

    James O’Higgins-Norman

  4. School of Child & Youth Care, University of Victoria, V8W 2Y2, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Daniel Scott

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Fisher, J.W. (2009). Understanding and Assessing Spiritual Health. In: de Souza, M., Francis, L.J., O’Higgins-Norman, J., Scott, D. (eds) International Handbook of Education for Spirituality, Care and Wellbeing. International Handbooks of Religion and Education, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9018-9_5

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