Spirituality and resilience

Abstract

AbstractResilience contributes to positive health outcomes in the physiological, social, mental, and spiritual domains. Spirituality, religion, and meaning-giving are resources and means that help individuals cope with adverse life events and circumstances. Thinking about resilience should therefore include spirituality. In this chapter, this position is substantiated by a reflection on resilience and on an innovative concept of positive health, based in part on Antonovsky’s salutogenic approach, especially the construct of a sense of coherence. The concept of positive health involves six dimensions depicted in a six-pointed spider’s web. Especially important is that a spiritual/existential dimension is included in this dynamic concept of health, which is defined as the ability to adapt and to self-manage. The concept is illustrated with an uncomplicated, everyday case vignette. Subsequently, the meaning-making process and the available empirical evidence are discussed in more detail. The meaning-making process is invaluable in terms of meaningfulness as an outcome of resilience and positive health. The empirical evidence supporting spirituality and religion in relation to the promotion of mental health is still undervalued and therefore deserves to be brought up again and again.