Conversations and Beyond: Religious/Spiritual Care Needs among Clinical Mental Health Patients in the Netherlands

Joke C. Van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse*, Hanneke Schaap-Jonker, Gerlise Westerbroek, Christa Anbeek, Arjan W. Braam

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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    Abstract

    This study examines religious/spiritual (R/S) care needs and their possible determinants among mental health patients in the Netherlands. Patients in a Christian (CC, n = 100) and a secular (SC, n = 101) mental health clinic completed a questionnaire. Analysis revealed three factors on the R/S care needs measure: (1) "R/S conversations,"(2) "R/S program and recovery,"and (3) "R/S similar outlook on life."The presence of R/S care needs was predicted by the following: site (CC versus SC), R/S involvement, and religious strain. Most commonly, unmet R/S care needs were explanation about R/S and illness by the practitioner, prayer with a nurse, conversations about religious distress with a nurse, conversation when R/S conflicts with treatment, help in finding a congregation, and contact between chaplain and practitioner. "R/S similar outlook on life"was equally important to patients with and without R/S involvement. Patients appreciate a match in worldview with health professionals, either religious or secular.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)524-532
    Number of pages9
    JournalJournal of Nervous and Mental Disease
    Volume208
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2020

    Funding

    J.C.v.N.A.-M. is currently receiving a grant from the John Templeton Foundation (grant no. 60667) and the Stichting tot Steun VCVGZ. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding organizations.

    FundersFunder number
    John Templeton Foundation60667
    Stichting tot Steun Vereniging tot Christelijke Verzorging van Geestes- en Zenuwzieken

      Keywords

      • care needs
      • Religiosity
      • religiosity gap
      • religious strain
      • spirituality

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