Spiritual Healthcare Science™ Research Spotlight

Extensive peer-reviewed research demonstrates that spirituality is a core dimension of health, that spiritual distress is a clinically observable form of suffering, and that professionally delivered spiritual care, particularly chaplaincy—is associated with improved quality of life, patient satisfaction, coping, and ethically aligned (Balboni et al., 2010; Fitchett, 2017; Koenig et al., 2012; Puchalski et al., 2014).

Balboni, T. A., Paulk, M. E., Balboni, M. J., Phelps, A. C., Loggers, E. T., Wright, A. A., Block, S. D., Lewis, E. F., Peteet, J. R., & Prigerson, H. G. (2010). Provision of spiritual care to patients with advanced cancer: Associations with medical care and quality of life near death. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 28(3), 445–452. https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2009.24.8005

Fitchett, G. (2017). Recent progress in chaplaincy-related research. Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 71(3), 163–175. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1542305017724811

Koenig, H. G., King, D. E., & Carson, V. B. (2012). Handbook of religion and health (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Puchalski, C. M., Vitillo, R., Hull, S. K., & Reller, N. (2014). Improving the spiritual dimension of whole person care: Reaching national and international consensus. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 17(6), 642–656. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jpm.2014.9427

Research Highlight: Spirituality, Health, and Meaning in Clinical Contexts

This peer-reviewed article, published in the Journal of Religion and Health, contributes to the growing body of evidence affirming the role of spirituality in health, healing, and whole-person care. The authors explore how spiritual frameworks, meaning-making, and existential dimensions intersect with psychological and physical health outcomes—particularly in clinical and caregiving environments.

From a Spiritual Healthcare Science™ perspective, this research reinforces what chaplains, spiritual care providers, and integrative clinicians witness daily: spiritual distress and spiritual resilience directly affect well-being, decision-making, and recovery.

Why This Matters for Spiritual Healthcare Practice:

Validates spirituality as a legitimate domain of care, not an adjunct
Supports the integration of spiritual assessment into clinical settings
Aligns with whole-person, trauma-informed, and patient-centered care models
Strengthens the evidence base for professional chaplaincy and spiritual healthcare education

Spiritual Healthcare Science™ Insight:
This research aligns with our framework that health is not limited to symptom reduction, but involves alignment of spirit, soul, and body. Meaning, belief systems, and spiritual coping mechanisms are not peripheral—they are foundational to sustainable healing and human flourishing.

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Citation:
Journal of Religion and Health. Springer Nature. (2025).
Article DOI: 10.1007/s10943-025-02550-w

Research Highlight: Chaplaincy, Spiritual Care, and Clinical Integration

This peer-reviewed article, published in the Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, examines the evolving role of professional chaplaincy within healthcare systems and highlights the clinical, ethical, and relational contributions of spiritual care providers. The authors explore how chaplains function as interdisciplinary team members addressing spiritual distress, meaning-making, and existential concerns that often emerge during illness, trauma, and end-of-life care.

The research emphasizes chaplaincy not merely as religious support, but as a specialized form of spiritual healthcare grounded in professional competencies, reflective practice, and clinical presence.

Why This Matters for Spiritual Healthcare Practice:

Affirms chaplaincy as a professional clinical discipline, not informal support
Supports the inclusion of spiritual care within interdisciplinary healthcare teams
Highlights the role of chaplains in addressing moral distress, suffering, and meaning
Reinforces standards for training, accountability, and scope of practice in spiritual care

Spiritual Healthcare Science™ Insight:
This article directly aligns with the Spiritual Healthcare Science™ framework, which positions spiritual care as an evidence-informed, ethically grounded discipline that addresses the deepest layers of human experience. Chaplains do not treat diagnoses—they accompany persons. This research reinforces the necessity of spiritually trained clinicians who can hold space for suffering, hope, belief, and identity within complex healthcare environments.

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Citation:
Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling. SAGE Publications.
DOI: 10.1177/1542305017724811

Research Highlight: Spiritual Care as an Essential Dimension of Health

This peer-reviewed article, published by Religions through MDPI, explores the role of spirituality and spiritual care as an integral dimension of health, particularly within healthcare, caregiving, and human development contexts. The authors examine how spiritual beliefs, practices, and meaning-making processes influence coping, resilience, ethical decision-making, and overall well-being.

Rather than treating spirituality as an optional or secondary concern, the article positions spiritual care as a core component of holistic, person-centered health frameworks.

Why This Matters for Spiritual Healthcare Practice:

Reinforces spirituality as a distinct and essential domain of health, alongside physical and mental health
Supports whole-person and integrative care models used in clinical, community, and faith-informed settings
Highlights the role of spiritual care in resilience, suffering, identity, and meaning-making
Strengthens the academic foundation for structured spiritual assessments and interventions

Spiritual Healthcare Science™ Insight:
This research closely aligns with Spiritual Healthcare Science™, which affirms that spiritual health is not abstract or incidental—it is measurable, observable, and impactful. When spiritual needs are ignored, care becomes incomplete. When spiritual care is integrated, individuals are better equipped to navigate illness, transition, trauma, and purpose. This article supports the advancement of spiritual healthcare as a legitimate, research-informed discipline.

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Citation:
Religions. MDPI.
Article ID: 22824

Research Highlight: Spirituality, Coping, and Whole-Person Well-Being

This peer-reviewed article, published through Wiley Online Library, examines the relationship between spirituality, coping mechanisms, and overall well-being. The authors explore how spiritual beliefs, practices, and meaning-making processes function as internal resources during stress, illness, adversity, and life disruption.

The research highlights spirituality as a significant factor in emotional regulation, resilience, and adaptive coping.

Rather than framing spirituality as a purely religious construct, the article situates it as a human dimension of health that influences how individuals interpret suffering, sustain hope, and navigate uncertainty.

Why This Matters for Spiritual Healthcare Practice:

Supports spirituality as a protective and adaptive coping resource
Reinforces the role of meaning-making in psychological and emotional resilience
Validates spiritual assessment as part of holistic care planning
Strengthens integrative approaches across clinical, community, and pastoral settings

Spiritual Healthcare Science™ Insight:
This research strongly aligns with Spiritual Healthcare Science™, which recognizes spirituality as a core driver of how individuals respond to stress, trauma, and life transitions. Coping is not merely behavioral—it is interpretive and existential. When spiritual frameworks are acknowledged and supported, individuals are better equipped to maintain coherence, identity, and hope during challenging seasons of life.

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Citation:
Wiley Online Library. Wiley.
DOI: 10.5402/2012/278730

Research Highlight: Spirituality as a Resource for Coping and Meaning

This peer-reviewed article, published through Wiley Online Library, explores the role of spirituality as a coping resource in the face of stress, adversity, and life challenges. The authors examine how spiritual beliefs, practices, and meaning-making processes contribute to emotional regulation, resilience, and overall well-being. Rather than viewing coping solely as a psychological or behavioral process, the study highlights spirituality as a key interpretive framework through which individuals understand suffering, hope, and purpose.

The findings support spirituality as a meaningful dimension of human experience that shapes how people respond to uncertainty, loss, and transition.

Why This Matters for Spiritual Healthcare Practice:

Affirms spirituality as a significant coping and resilience factor
Supports inclusion of spiritual assessment in holistic care models
Highlights meaning-making as central to emotional and existential well-being
Strengthens integrative approaches across clinical, community, and pastoral care settings

Spiritual Healthcare Science™ Insight:
This research aligns closely with Spiritual Healthcare Science™, which recognizes that coping is not merely about managing symptoms, but about sustaining coherence, identity, and hope. Spiritual frameworks influence how individuals interpret their experiences and mobilize inner resources. When spiritual coping is supported, care becomes more comprehensive, humane, and effective—especially during seasons of stress, illness, or profound life change.

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👉 Access the peer-reviewed article via Wiley Online Library

Citation:
Wiley Online Library. Wiley.
DOI: 10.5402/2012/278730

Research Highlight: Spiritual Care in Clinical Practice and Patient Well-Being

This peer-reviewed article, available through ClinicalKey, examines the role of spiritual care within clinical healthcare settings and its relevance to patient well-being, coping, and meaning during illness. The authors discuss how spiritual needs often surface alongside physical and emotional distress and how addressing these needs contributes to more comprehensive, person-centered care.

The article situates spiritual care as a legitimate and necessary component of modern healthcare, particularly in contexts involving serious illness, chronic conditions, and life-limiting diagnoses.

Why This Matters for Spiritual Healthcare Practice:

Reinforces spiritual care as an essential dimension of patient-centered clinical care
Supports the integration of spiritual assessment into routine healthcare practice
Highlights the impact of spiritual support on coping, decision-making, and quality of life
Strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration between chaplains, clinicians, and care teams

Spiritual Healthcare Science™ Insight:
This research aligns strongly with Spiritual Healthcare Science™, which asserts that healing cannot be fully understood or supported without attending to the spiritual dimension of the person. Clinical environments often focus on treatment and outcomes; spiritual healthcare ensures that meaning, identity, values, and hope are not lost in the process. This article supports the continued development of spiritually informed, ethically grounded, and evidence-aware care models.

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Citation:
ClinicalKey, Elsevier.
Article ID: S2211335516300845

Articles shared are the intellectual property of their respective authors and publishers. Summaries and reflections are provided for educational, professional, and research-informed spiritual healthcare development.