How Spirituality Supports Patient Recovery in Health Care

Author: University of Huddersfield
Published: 10 Nov 2014 - Updated: 20 Sep 2026
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed | Findings

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This article explores the connection between spirituality and patient recovery time, presenting compelling insights into how spiritual beliefs and practices may positively influence healing, especially in individuals facing long-term or chronic health conditions. It highlights studies and anecdotal evidence suggesting that patients who engage in spiritual reflection, prayer, or feel a strong sense of purpose often report reduced stress levels, better emotional resilience, and improved physical outcomes. The content is particularly relevant for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities or those in rehabilitation settings, offering thoughtful considerations on the role of holistic care in recovery without advocating any specific belief system.*

At a Glance

• 1 - Since the 19th century spirituality has often been separated from religion and tied to subjective experience.
• 2 - Occupational therapy has led the way, while other health disciplines still struggle to integrate spirituality.
• 3 - The University's Spirituality Special Interest Group has run for ten years and now supports four PhD researchers.
• 4 - The group is a spiritual partner of the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which serves Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

Topic Definition

Spirituality in Health Care

Spirituality in health care refers to the part of a person's life that supplies meaning, hope and purpose, and to the practical attention clinicians give it during illness, rehabilitation and recovery. It is broader than religion. For some patients it grows out of faith, for others it rests on relationships, community ties, work or a long held interest, and a growing body of teaching treats it as something every practitioner should be able to recognize rather than the sole preserve of chaplains. In practice it tends to look unremarkable: asking what matters to a person, listening without rushing, and helping them hold on to optimism when a long recovery has worn it down. The value claimed for it is not miraculous healing but resilience, better coping and a less isolating experience of illness, for staff as well as patients, which is why occupational therapy, mental health and palliative care have adopted it faster than most other disciplines.

Overview

The term 'spirituality' is now widely used to describe the qualities that give people hope, meaning and purpose. In the case of patients, it can aid their recovery. The University of Huddersfield has become a key center for research into spirituality and how it can be integrated into health care teaching and practice.

Traditionally spirituality has been defined as a process of personal transformation in accordance with religious ideals. Since the 19th century spirituality is often separated from religion, and has become more oriented on subjective experience and psychological growth. It may refer to almost any kind of meaningful activity or blissful experience, but without a single, widely-agreed definition.

Articles, overseas conference presentations and now close links with an NHS trust are among the recent outputs and activities of the University's Spirituality Special Interest Group, based in the School of Human and Heath Sciences. Established for ten years, the group has also run a series of master classes for health and social care practitioners.

Spirituality is embedded in a wide range of undergraduate courses - covering subject areas such as psychology, social work, nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy - and four PhD students are currently carrying out research on spirituality in health care. Also, plans are being made for a 2015 conference on the subject.

Spiritual partner of the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Melanie Rogers is a Senior Lecturer and Advanced Nurse Practitioner at the University and one of the leaders of the special interest group, alongside Professor John Wattis and Senior Lecturer Janice Jones. She admits that many people regard spirituality as a nebulous term, or one that is often conflated with religion. However, she says, spirituality is intensely practical.

"It helps to sustain health care workers and patients by recognizing and supporting a sense of meaning and purpose in life. It can improve resilience in patients and practitioners alike, in addition to improving the experience of illness and crisis in patients."

She acknowledges that for some people, spirituality derives from religious beliefs. But for many others it stems from factors such as their relationships, community connections and special interests.

The University's special interest group is now a "spiritual partner" of the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides community, mental health and learning disability services in Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. It has embedded spirituality into its work.

"Spirituality and the practitioners approach to their patients play a huge part in recovery from illness," said Melanie Rogers, whose recent co-authored articles include an evaluation of therapeutic optimism, dealing with the role played by a practitioner's belief in a patient's recovery.

Spirituality plays a huge part in patients' recovery.

"Patients can lose optimism, but the practitioner needs to try and facilitate it. One way is to spend time listening to the patient - being fully present and engaged in the relationship. Spirituality is about the patient being the focus and it is very practical, not at all airy fairy, and we know it sustains health care workers and patients," said Ms. Rogers, who has been invited to join the executive of the British Association for the Study of Spirituality.

Her most recent article is 'Health care lecturers' perceptions of spirituality in education', in the leading journal Nursing Standard presenting research carried out at the University originally led by Dr Sharon Prentis, a former member of staff. Her co-authors were University of Huddersfield colleagues Professor Wattis, Dr John Stephenson and Janice Jones. Also, Melanie Rogers and Janice Jones have presented at conferences on spirituality that have taken place in the UK and overseas.

Although spirituality is gaining increasing recognition, it is still not spread evenly across the spectrum of health care.

"Occupational therapy has taken a lead, and there is growing amount of evidence in the fields of mental health and palliative care, but many of the other disciplines struggle to know how to integrate it into their care," said Melanie Rogers. Research and teaching at the University of Huddersfield aims to correct this imbalance.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

Is spirituality in health care the same thing as religion

No, religion involves shared beliefs, texts and practices, while spirituality in a clinical setting refers more broadly to whatever gives a person meaning, hope and purpose. That can come from faith for some people and from relationships, community or personal interests for others.

Does the evidence show that spirituality actually speeds physical healing

Most studies show associations rather than proven cause and effect, with the clearest findings around coping, resilience, anxiety and quality of life rather than the healing of tissue. Researchers generally describe it as a factor that supports recovery alongside medical treatment, not a replacement for it.

What is a spiritual assessment in a clinical setting

It is a short structured conversation in which a clinician asks what gives a patient strength, whether faith or belief matters to them, and what support they would want during illness. Brief question sets exist to keep the conversation open ended rather than leading.

How can a clinician raise the subject without imposing their own beliefs

The accepted approach is to ask open questions about what matters to the patient and then follow their lead, rather than offering beliefs, prayer or advice unprompted. Documenting the answer and referring on to a chaplain or counselor when asked keeps the role supportive rather than persuasive.

What does spiritual care look like for a patient who is not religious

It focuses on meaning, dignity, relationships and unfinished concerns rather than faith practice, and can include time to talk, contact with family, or support for something the person values such as music, nature or their work. The aim is to treat the person as a whole rather than as a diagnosis.

Who usually provides spiritual care in a hospital

Chaplains and spiritual care teams hold the specialist role, but nurses, therapists and doctors provide much of it informally through listening and presence. Many services now train general staff to recognize spiritual distress and refer on when deeper support is needed.

Can attention to spirituality help health care staff themselves

Practitioners report that a clear sense of meaning in their work offers some protection against burnout and moral distress, which is one reason universities and trusts include it in staff development. Supporting staff wellbeing also tends to improve the quality of care patients receive.

Are there risks in bringing spirituality into patient care

Yes, the main risks are patients feeling pressured to share beliefs they would rather keep private, staff imposing their own convictions, and spiritual explanations being used to paper over gaps in clinical treatment. Clear boundaries, consent and referral pathways are what keep the practice ethical.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: While not a substitute for medical treatment, this information invites a broader view of healing - one that acknowledges the human need for meaning, connection, and inner peace during recovery. Integrating spirituality into care may not only comfort patients but also complement existing therapies in ways that science is only beginning to understand. Incorporating spirituality into healthcare practices offers a unique avenue for addressing the often-overlooked emotional and existential dimensions of patient care. The research findings show that spiritual practices, including prayer and faith-based support, significantly enhance resilience, life satisfaction, and mental health outcomes for individuals facing severe disabilities or chronic conditions. These insights are particularly relevant for seniors, disabled individuals, and healthcare providers seeking holistic approaches to recovery. By fostering meaningful connections and hope, healthcare providers can improve recovery outcomes while enriching their own professional experiences. This approach underscores the importance of treating patients as whole individuals - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.*

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Huddersfield and published on 10 Nov 2014, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.