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Neil Thompson looks at research into the important and sometimes overlooked role of spiritual beliefs in responding to bereavement.

In this study researchers from the University of Southampton developed a measure for quantifying spiritual belief and applied this to 28 older people whose spouses had died.

Participants in the research were interviewed three times in total: on the first anniversary of their spouse's death, again six months later and then a third time on or about the second anniversary of the death. The researchers divided the sample into three subgroups: low or weak spiritual beliefs, moderate spiritual beliefs, and high spiritual beliefs. They did this with a view to discovering whether people differed in their response to the bereavement in keeping with their level of spiritual belief.

The research found there was a clear association between level of belief, personal meaning and well-being. For example, the greater one's level of spiritual belief, the lower the chance of depression being reported. The authors refer to a significant body of American research that similarly makes a case for recognising the important links between religious feeling and physical and mental well-being. However, they also point out that these findings do not automatically transfer to a UK situation.

The paper argues that, while the role of the religion may well have declined in modern society, this does not necessarily mean that people's spiritual beliefs have similarly declined. Indeed, the role of spirituality in general and the support of faith communities in particular are clearly issues which require closer attention.

The study uses a definition of spirituality that includes reference to a higher power or "transcendent being". However, other authors, such as Moss,¹ adopt a definition that sees spirituality as being a matter of value, purpose and meaning, which may or may not include a religious dimension. Either way, we need to recognise that spirituality is not simply a matter of religion.

In my view, this research is important for three separate but nonetheless related reasons. First, it helps to raise awareness of spiritual and existential issues which can often be neglected in social work in general^.2 Second, more specifically, it helps us to question the validity of care management approaches to working with older people that neglect the less tangible needs associated with meaning, beliefs and spirituality in favour of a primary, if not exclusive, focus on practical care needs. Third, it reminds us that older people grieve too, despite the common ageist myth that older people "get used to" losses in their lives.³

The authors acknowledge that their study is an exploratory one, and so it is to be hoped that it can form the basis of further research work to develop a fuller understanding of this important but neglected area of study and practice.

- Peter G Coleman, Fionnuala McKiernan, Marie Mills and Peter Speck, "Spiritual belief and quality of life: the experience of older bereaved spouses", Quality in Ageing 3(1), March 2002.

Neil Thompson is a director of Avenue Consulting (www.avenueconsulting.co.uk) and a visiting professor at the University of Liverpool. He is editor of Loss and Grief: A Guide for Human Services Practitioners.

References

¹ Bernard Moss, "Spirituality: a personal perspective", in N Thompson (ed), Loss and Grief: A Guide for Human Services Practitioners, Palgrave, 2002

² M Lloyd, "Dying and bereavement, spirituality and social work in a market economy of welfare", British Journal of Social Work 27(2), 1997; and N Patel, D Naik and B Humphries, Visions of Reality, CCETSW, 1997

³ S Thompson, "Old age", in N Thompson, as above.