Handbook of Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being by Webb, Jon R.;

Short description:

This edited volume is a one-stop repository of the most current research on the relevance and application of the broad construct of spirituality to health and well-being, including mental, physical, and social aspects.

Long description:

This edited volume is a one-stop repository of the most current research on the relevance and application of the broad construct of spirituality to health and well-being, including mental, physical, and social aspects.

This book brings together foundational material (e.g., definitions, neuroscience, and culture/diversity), a focus on particular health and well-being related outcomes impacted by spiritual factors (e.g., chronic medical conditions, depression, and trauma), a focus on particular manifestations of spirituality and their relationship to health and well-being (e.g., forgiveness, meditation, and gratitude), clinical interventions and perspectives (e.g., mindfulness, compassion, and hope), and inclusive contextual considerations (e.g., sexual and gender minorities, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Additionally, given the international-level, public health crisis of addiction, each of these broad sections of the book includes a chapter focused on addiction recovery.

This book is the go-to resource for scholars, researchers, clinicians, and lay people who are interested in understanding, developing, and/or providing ethically comprehensive and inclusive spiritually attuned healthcare.

"A landmark contribution. This handbook signals the coming-of-age of the psychological study of spirituality.  It moves spiritual study from the background to the foreground of theory, research, and practice. This large volume brings together over 100 researchers who describe the wide-ranging implications of spirituality for topics including health, positive psychology, mental health treatment, neuroscience, struggles, gender, race, and culture. Webb has done a masterful job organizing and integrating these diverse contributions in ways that honor the multi-dimensional, multi-level, and multi-valent character of spiritual life. This is an essential volume for researchers and professionals interested in understanding the deepest dimension of our lives."  

Kenneth I. Pargament, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA, Chief Editor of 2-Volume: APA Handbook of Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality (2013), Author of Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy: Understanding and Addressing the Sacred (2007), Author (with Julie J. Exline) of Spiritual Struggles in Psychotherapy: From Research to Practice (2022) and Former President of Division 36 of the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (1996–1997)

"Dr. Jon Webb has brought together an amazing array of gifted scholars to produce an engaging and informative volume. This well-designed, up-to-date, and wide-ranging handbook is a must-have for scientists, practitioners, scholars, and educators seeking a deep dive into the topics of spirituality, well-being, and health."

Julie J. Exline, PhD, Bonner-Lowry Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences and Director, Division of Perceptual Studies, University of Virginia Health Systems, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, Co-Associate Editor: APA Handbook of Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality (Volume 1, 2013) and Former President of Division 36 of the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (2012–2013)

"The Handbook of Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being: A Psychological Perspective is a landmark contribution to the field of healthcare. Edited and authored by distinguished scholars and researchers who are leaders in psychology, religion, spirituality, and healthcare, this compelling volume features over 40 in-depth chapters that explore groundbreaking theories, insightful research findings, and practical applications concerning the significant influence of religion and spirituality in human health and well-being. It is a comprehensive and authoritative resource for researchers, medical and mental health providers, clergy, and the media. Its wealth of knowledge makes it essential for all healthcare professionals and researchers."

P. Scott Richards, PhD, Co-Founder and President, Bridges Institute for Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapies, Saint George, Utah, USA, Editor of Handbook of Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapies (2023), Former President of Division 36 of the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (2004–2005), Fellow of the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality and Fellow of Division 29 of the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy

"Authoritative, relevant, and comprehensive, this Handbook will stand as a beacon for current and future generations of scholars and practitioners in spirituality and health, directing the way toward deep knowledge and effective practice. This volume reflects the combined expertise and genius of a diverse set of scholars well versed in spirituality and health. This is the sort of work that consolidates and advances fields of study. Dr. Webb and his collaborators have done us all a great service."

Nathaniel G. Wade, PhD, Professor and Associate Chair of Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA, Co-Editor of Handbook of Forgiveness (2^nd Edition, 2020)

"In the face of an already vast and expanding literature on spirituality, health and well-being, it is natural to question the need for another book. Yet here expert chapter authors show the value of conceptual and empirical exploration of multiple sectors of this landscape, including psychology, culture, well-being, neuroscience, secular spirituality, interventions, competencies, spiritual struggles and future directions. The result is a comprehensive resource providing uniquely helpful context and content for both new students and experienced scholars."

John R. Peteet, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Co-Author of Handbook of Religion and Health (3^rd Edition, 2024)

"This volume is a monumental achievement, with chapters authored by the leading experts in their fields and a scope encompassing both empirical research and sophisticated theoretical contributions. A particular strength is the focus, not just on physical health, but on well-being in its many facets, recognizing the importance of religion and spirituality to human flourishing when facing difficulties such as those associated with health challenges. Chapters on psychological foundations of the spirituality-health/well-being connection make this volume accessible to newcomers to the field, while comprehensive chapters on specific health conditions as well as specific spiritual practices and interventions make this the go-to volume for state-of-the-art knowledge in this vital and rapidly evolving field."

M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, La Mirada, California, USA, Former President of Division 36 of the American Psychological Association, the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (2013–2014)

"Webb’s Handbook of Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being covers an amazing breadth of pioneering topics - suicidology, gender, sexuality, culture, neuroscience - all the while grounded within the RiTE model of spirituality and written by experts in their fields. The Handbook offers the reader a state-of-the-science review of research on the intricate connections between spirituality, health, and well-being from a psychological perspective and paves the way for the work yet to be done to further illuminate our understanding of human spirituality. This volume is a rich resource with a myriad of applications for students, practitioners, and scholars alike...a real gift to anyone intellectually curious about spirituality."   

Gina Magyar-Russell, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

"This groundbreaking volume is a tour de force in the integration of spirituality, health, and psychological science. Combining contributions from respected scholars and practitioners, it offers a comprehensive exploration from conceptual frameworks to hands-on therapeutic strategies. The book does not shy away from difficult questions or emerging frontiers, including spiritual struggles, moral injury, and secular spirituality. Drawing on my background in the field, I found it to be an invaluable resource that thoughtfully integrates empirical rigor with the complex, often overlooked dimensions of spirituality and well-being. A must-read for clinicians, researchers, and anyone seeking to understand the role of spirituality in human flourishing."

Edyta Charzyńska, PhD, Associate Professor, Institute of Psychology, Institute of Pedagogy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland

"Webb has brought together an impressive range of contributions for this Handbook from both established and up-and-coming scholars from the fields of spirituality and health that is as diverse as it informative. From positive psychology to cultural contexts to neuroscience, the Handbook of Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being offers the full spectrum of psychological perspectives on the value and relevance of spirituality for health and well-being. With its comprehensive coverage of theory and practice related to issues in understanding and addressing physical health and mental well-being from a spiritual perspective across diverse populations, this Handbook is sure to become the quintessential resource for those interested in the role of spirituality in health and well-being."

Fuschia M. Sirois, PhD, Professor of Social and Health Psychology, Durham University, Durham, England, Co-Editor-in-Chief of British Journal of Health Psychology, Editor of The Palgrave Handbook of Positive Psychology and Health (2025)

Table of Contents:

Part 1: Relevance and Historical Development  1. The Empirical Examination of the Association of Spirituality with Health and Well-Being: An Introduction  2. Spirituality as a Manifestation of Culture and Diversity  3. Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being: Field Overview and Emerging Frontiers  Part 2: A Foundation for Understanding the Science of Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being  4. The Psychology of Faith  5. An Introduction to the Sixth Major Dimension of Personality: The Numinous  6. Secular Spirituality  7. Parallels between Positive Psychology and Spirituality: The Twelve-Step Model as Another Example  8. The Neuroscience of Spirituality  9. Models and Mechanisms of the Association of Spirituality with Health and Well-Being  Part 3: Health and Well-Being Related Outcomes  10. Spirituality and Chronic Medical Illness  11. Spirituality and Chronic Pain  12. Spirituality and Cardiovascular Related Outcomes  13. Spirituality and Cancer-Related Outcomes  14. Spirituality and HIV Related Outcomes  15. Spirituality and Medical Rehabilitation  16. Awakened Awareness: A Process of Supported Spiritual Individuation in Emerging Adult College Students  17. Spirituality and Suicidal Behavior  18. Spirituality and Addictive Behavior  19. Spirituality, Meaning Making, and Trauma Recovery  Part 4: Predictors, Interventions, and Clinical Perspectives  20. Addressing Spirituality in Treatment-related Settings: Big Picture Issues  21. An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses on the Association Between Religion/Spirituality and Health/Well-Being  22. Meditation: A Practice for Inner Wisdom  23. Forgiveness  24. Mindfulness  25. Compassion  26. Gratitude and Spirituality: Pathways to Individual and Relational Well-Being  27. Hope: Research on Well-being and Psychological Interventions  28. Humility  29. Over 50 Years in Clinical Practice: A Tribute to Philip H. Friedman, Ph.D.  30. Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being in Collegiate Recovery Programs  31. Spirituality and Sex Offense Treatment Related Outcomes  Part 5: Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being in Context  32. Religious and Spiritual Flourishing in Children and Adolescents  33. The SPIRIT Model of Well-Being: Sacred Processes Inviting Relational and Individual Transcendence among Couples  34. Women’s Experience with Spirituality in Addiction Recovery  35. Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being among Ethnic and Racial Minority Populations  36. Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being Among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations  37. Clergy Health: Religious and Spiritual Considerations  Part 6: Emerging Areas in the Science of Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being  38. Religious and Spiritual Struggles and Their Implications for Health and Well-Being: A Concise Review of an Emerging and Promising Line of Inquiry  39. Understanding the Psychology of Temptation and The Role it Plays in Spirituality, Health and Well-Being  40. Spirituality and Moral Injury: A Review of Findings, Models, and Interventions  41. Spiritual Bypass  42. Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being among Families and Persons Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities  43. Forgiveness Education and Promotion: A Narrative Review of Methods and Effectiveness  Part 7: Conclusion  44. Moving the Psychological Science of Spirituality, Health, and Well-Being Forward