Spirituality, Wellbeing and Youth

by Sylvie Shaw

Do young people with faith have a sense of wellbeing?  In an article in the International Journal of Children's Spirituality, one of the articles on the whole issue on wellbeing addresses the relationship between spirituality and wellbeing.

The author, John Fisher (2009) suggests that spirituality can be a woolly concept to define. And the whole area of youth, spirituality and wellbeing is a little researched field. In particular, he cites Houskamp, Fisher and Stuber (2004: 223) who claim: '...the research in spirituality in children and adolescents is still at an early stage and is highly dependent on interviewing and other qualitative research techniques to generate hypotheses, with no established body of research to develop reliable and valid quantitative measures.' 

Another article in the same journal by Hodder (2009:198), Spirituality and well-being: 'New Age' and 'evangelical' spiritual expressions among young people and their implications for well-being, starts off by acknowledging, importantly: 'Young people today seem to be at the nexus of a changing society'.  

What was significant in Hodder's research was that spirituality was regarded by both new agers and evangelicals as relational' rather than 'individualistic'. She found thatHow  young people, regardless of either religious perspective, valued autonomy and independence in their spiritual and religious views and practices. They recognised an autonomy over doctrine compared with autonomy within a 'collective communal orientation' (205).

She concludes with this plea: 'In order for society to function well, it could be argued, it is necessary for its individuals to be well. Relationships are at the heart of this understanding and provide the framework for understanding spirituality and its links to well-being.' (209). 

Reflection

How do you respond to Hodder's concern? In a secular nation, how would or should the government respond to these themes? Would you like to take up more research in this field?

References

Fisher J. 2009. Getting the balance: assessing spirituality and wellbeing among children and youth. International Journal of Children's Spirituality 14(3): 273-288.

Hodder J. 2009. Spirituality and well-being: 'New Age' and 'evangelical' spiritual expressions among young people and their implications for well-being. International Journal of Children's Spirituality 14(3): 197-212.

Image source:

http://pixabay.com/en/monarch-butterfly-butterflies-18383/