Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Spiritual activities'

More than 40 million American adults suffer from anxiety, but only a third receive care despite evidence of effective treatment. This is attributed to lack of access to adequate services, cultural-based myths, and prohibitive symptoms associated with anxiety, especially for marginalized populations such as racial minorities. Since spirituality is often used as a coping mechanism especially for racial groups, psychotherapy has slowly begun incorporating it into treatment. While this has the potential to reduce some barriers to care, the increasing number of Americans who are disaffiliating with traditional faiths or belong to minority spiritualities may not use the same coping mechanisms. The current study sought to contribute to the literature by obtaining a better understanding of whether the use of traditional spiritual activities and perceptions of God are different for spiritual majorities and minorities especially in managing anxiety. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (n=1525) from the Baylor Religion Study, structural equation models were tested to examine the relationships between anxiety and religious beliefs related to attachment to God as well as between anxiety and spiritual activities that encompass both social, organizational and private, subjective religiosity. Minority stress and attachment theories guided hypotheses that higher levels of anxiety would be associated with status as a spiritual minority but would be positively mediated by participation in spiritual activities such as worship services, prayer and scripture reading as well as mediated by more secure attachment to God. Results indicated that unlike spiritual majorities, spiritual minorities show lower anxiety levels compared with spiritual majorities unless using traditional forms of spiritual activities. Rather than positive or negative perceptions of the relationship with God, inconsistent perceptions were associated with higher levels of anxiety for all participants. Spiritual minorities had lower levels of both positive and negative perceptions of God's persona as well as lower levels of positive perceptions of the relationship with God, none of which correlated to anxiety. The results may indicate that spiritual minorities use other activities to successfully cope with anxiety and that they have greater anxiety when trying to conform to the dominant culture. This has important implications for practice given that many therapists lack training on how to incorporate spirituality into treatment. Distinctions between perceptions of the relationship with God and of God's persona indicate the need for further study of how more nuanced spiritual beliefs influence anxiety outcomes for a diverse range of spiritual practice and of the process by which individuals intentionally use spiritual tools to cope with anxiety.
Ph. D.

Behind the Buckskin Curtain looks at how spiritual ceremonies and drama activities impact Aboriginal youth's healing experience? This thesis is about an Aboriginal youth study that was conducted from April 9 - May 14, 2003. The study included youth between the ages of 19 - 25 who were living in Vancouver, British Columbia. Participants committed to get together once a week for six weeks at the Native Education Centre in the inner-city of Vancouver BC. This study was proposed to inquire into the spiritual needs of Aboriginal Youth in British Columbia. Specifically this study inquires into the participants regained healing through their use of spiritual ceremonies and drama activities. Chapters one to three discuss healing in the British Columbia Aboriginal community. Chapter four discusses the way in which the Aboriginal youth study unfolded. Chapter five and six look at the results and the conclusions, implications, and recommendations the study indicates. Aboriginal youth share with us what they have learned prior to the study about their spiritual lives and about how they have learned through their experience with spiritual ceremonies combined with drama activities. The results show that Aboriginal youth did gain healing through their participation in spiritual ceremonies combined with drama activities.
Education, Faculty of
Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of
Graduate

This mixed methods research investigated how young adult alumnae from a Catholic female high school perceive the impact of their high school service experience concerning their "beliefs" about the importance of service, current "engagement" in service, and their beliefs about and engagement with four Catholic Social Teaching principles (life and dignity, care for the poor, solidarity and common good, and rights and responsibilities) related to social justice. This research draws data from young adult alumnae from a Catholic female single-sex high school in a metropolitan city of the United States. The data collection included a web-based survey (N=131), individual interview (n=9), and school documents review. Catholic theology of the human person, and Catholic social teaching principles served as the conceptual framework for data analysis. This research draws data from young adult alumnae from a Catholic female single-sex high school in a metropolitan city of the United States. The data collection included a web-based survey (N=131), individual interview (n=9), and school documents review. Catholic theology of the human person, and Catholic social teaching principles served as the conceptual framework for data analysis. The quantitative data revealed that Catholic high school service program experience positively impacts participants' "beliefs" about the importance of service (65%), and the importance of four Catholic social teaching principles (73%). The qualitative data corroborates with the quantitative findings. However, participants lacked translating their beliefs in to action with only 42% reporting as "engaged" in service. Although a majority of participants (60%) reported as engaged in activities related to four CST principles, in reality only 25% are significantly engaged in service in the past 12 months. Catholic educators are invited to examine their service pedagogy and address factors that contribute to low level of service engagement. Further research is suggested to identify factors that would raise the level of service engagement in alumnae’s young adult life.

碩士
佛光大學
生命學研究所
95
English Abstracts According to a statement of Ding, Ren-jie in his essay, The Theories for Folk Religious Beliefs Transformation of Delocalized Social Circumstance: Focus on a Role Played by Private Altar Behind Connecting Inner Spiritual Mind Phenomenon,a first model of "spiritual activities" began in the 1980s and it was very prevalent in the 1990s in the entire Taiwan Island. Until 2007, this kind of folk events are still developing and getting more popular. Therefore, the research on my essay, Spiritual Activities and Mental Energy, emphasizes on spirit practioners who are participating psychial affairs. There is a further discussion on aspects of mental transition and conscious level recognition in the process of spiritual practice, which include spritual movements, songs, dances, sayings, and writings, and so on during the emotional and behavioral performance. In the essay, no only some cases and examples would be listed and described appropriately, and but also it includes actual experience and realization from the author. So-called the proficiency of channeling and supernatural power for "folk spiritual shaman" could be clarified, it is attributed to purification of practicing messages and enlightment for perception of birth and death. Thus high energy is connected, it does not belong to secrets of mysterious metaphysics, and not an inconceivable phenomenon for human beings. Followers are often encouraged to practice because of "merits" in the religions but we are not able to gradually demonstrate "enlightment" potential by entering "self" state in depth from "ego" if exterior consciousness never connect with interior sub-consciousness and then exchange information. Human conscoiusness is complex and variable due to reciprocal mutual existence and repetition between sub-consciousness and consciousness. A name, "will", is called by someone for elusive consciousness forms. In other words, it is sentimental response during mutual affectively of unconsciouness and consciousness. That is a source of selfness and is also a foundation for awaken the mind and see its true nature. Therefore, direct practicing sub-consciousness and its convert adumbrative image could be a main purpose of present psychial affairs. Let human body and carrying body spiritual symbol, "spirits", can be united in the soul and body, i.e. mutual integration between sub-consciousness and consciousness, or spirits. It has by a way of natural energy transformation which reflect to high existence entity for "Deities" in order to awake perceptive consciousness of spiritual practitioners. Hence, sub-consciousness is like a Pandora's box, how to open the box means developing potentials and consciousness transformation. THis is a necessary course for spiritual practitioners. Consequently, practice is merits gaining, let "merits" cultivate sub-consciousness until it is mature and can exchange information with deities. Accordingly, so-called "merits" should be back to the advance of intellectual self-consciousness. In the connection of consciousness and sub-consciousness, they merge in the tangible and intangible world. Besides, we tread on the path of "enlightment" under consciousness rational observation.

碩士
國立政治大學
社會學系
107
This study adapts Victor Turner’s traditional pilgrimage theory to discuss the practices and the challenges of Taiwan’s Catholic Youth. Through the in-depth interviews and participatory observations, this study explores the family factors that affect the Youth’s religious beliefs in the separation phase, the Youth’s experience, communication and understanding during the pilgrimage in the phase of liminality, and the identification and transformation of the Youth in the phase of aggregation. The impact on the youth beliefs is divided into three conversion results : strengthening the belief experience, maintaining the stability of the faith, and leaving the group with disappointment.The finding of this study provides some reflection and understanding about the pilgrimage and some related institutions suggestions.

碩士
亞洲大學
經營管理學系碩士在職專班
105
The purpose of this study is to explore the interrelationships between religious activities and spiritual stability. This research tool adopts the method of questionnaire survey, and the influence of the degree of rounding of religious activities on the stability of mind is the tool of inquiry and analysis. The questionnaire was published in January 2017. The revised questionnaire was distributed and recovered from March to April in 2017. This study takes Taichung area religious belief as the research base. Due to limited research funding and manpower, the sampling method of this study will be facilitated. Research results: 1.the degree of involvement of religious activities such as the following groups: female believers, with the country and primary education, aged over 51 years old, to participate in volunteer workers, at least once every two weeks to the believers. 2. the higher the soul of the following groups: married children, aged over 51 years old, to participate in volunteer workers. This study is based on the involvement of religious activities, to understand the attractiveness of believers to the involvement of religious activities, lifestyle center, self-expression and spiritual stability of the psychological, physiological in all facets are significant positive correlation, Will be affected by each other and change.

碩士
國立臺灣師範大學
運動休閒與餐旅管理研究所
104
Development of modern technology is getting prosperous, so people usually contact others by computers. Leading to ignore the importance of caring for each others. The members of family don’t have time to care or contact with each other, and the generation gap is worse than before. If the families participated in leisure activities together that can promote family relationships better, and enhance the body and mind so that individuals with good communication and people's spiritual health. The research aims to understand that whether participants taking part in religions leisure activities could enhance the spirituality health, thereby affect the harmony between families. In this study that samples are the participants from the Taipei Truth Lutheran Church. To inquire into the relationship between Involvement in religious activities, spiritual health, and family satisfaction. Questionnaire method is adopted in this study. 315 people who participated activities in Taipei Truth Lutheran Church during March in 2014 were purposive selected. The data were analized by T test, ANOVA, Scheffe, Pearson, Multiple Linear Regression. The results showed that there are significant correlations between Involvement in Religious Activities and Spiritual Health, Spiritual Health and Family Satisfaction, Involvement in Religious Activities and Family Satisfaction. However, spiritual health plays an important role in influencing the family satisfaction rather than Involvement in Religious Activities.

碩士
輔仁大學
宗教學系碩士在職專班
105
Age of patients of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has a trend of younger age. This group of patients is harder to seek for medical and support system, most patients look like suffering from incurable disease, they carry multiple pressures in their body, mind and society. Spirituality is a personal process in life; it is a persentation of self- transcendence, a person in personal self-relations, interpersonal relationship between God and man, through the process of self-transcendence to understand the meaning of life and value. This research therefore attempts to use intervention of support groups through Christianity creative music activities, to discuss from the perspective of interviews to explore the effect of factors on the acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients. In the greater Taipei area acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients in this study, after a period of eight times of music therapy group activities, use Yalom efficacy factor assessment tools based on the test, with structured interviews for analysis. The reason of choosing Christianity creative music activities is because of the types of musical intervention are varies, by combination of pitch, tempo, rhythm and volume and other music from a variety of species, also without the effects of culture, education background, language or mood disorders, it can also be used as a non-verbal communication tool. Whether Christian music lyrics or writing background all have inspiration influence on the inner life of man. This study will provide patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome related to self-care or medical care as a reference for the spiritual care planning.

博士
國立中正大學
成人及繼續教育研究所
102
The study aimed to investigate how elderly practitioners at Tai Ji Men (TJM) participating in its regular Qigong activities improved their spiritual health. Four purposes of the study are as follows: first, to investigate what motivated elderly practitioners at TJM to participate in regular Qigong activities; second, to discuss the process of regular Qigong activities of elderly practitioners at TJM; third, to explore the improvement of spiritual health of elderly practitioners at TJM after joining regular Qigong activities; fourth, to propose specific suggestions based on the study’s findings as a reference to the elderly regarding regular Qigong activities and the improvement of spiritual health. To achieve the aforementioned purposes of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted and purposive sampling and snowball sampling were adopted to interview 10 elderly practitioners at TJM who were at least 60 years old with at least two years’ seniority at TJM. National and international literature on Qigong and spiritual healthy was discussed at first, and the history and origin of TJM along with its current situations and issues were analyzed. Based on the Experiential Learning Theory, the improvement of spiritual health of elderly practitioners at TJM was examined through the discussion of motivation of joining regular Qigong activities, the process, and the five aspects of spiritual health. The sustained driving force and future expectations of joining regular Qigong activities were also discussed. The interview outline was accordingly formulated under this structure. Specific suggestions were proposed based on the findings of the study after they were obtained. With the integration of literature review and the results of the study, the following findings, conclusions and suggestions are presented. I. Findings 1. There were five major motivations for elderly practitioners at TJM to participate in regular Qigong activities; the greatest motivation was to have good health. 2. Elderly practitioners at TJM prioritized steady practice in regular Qigong activities, while the second priority was to participate in TJM’s branch affairs for growth. 3. TJM’s Dong-gong (dynamic Qigong) helped relieve pressure and train the body; Jing-gong (still Qigong) helped people to calm, reflect and grow wisdom; Wen-gong (literary ability), TJM Energy Family website, workshops and exchanges shared people’s life wisdoms; Chang-gong (singing) and group practice helped cleanse people’s mind and develop a heart of happiness and a heart of excellence; gathering altogether for the activities connected the minds of practitioners and the shifu (master), allowing them to achieve real TJM kong-fu and even demonstrate the spirit of TJM. 4. Averagely, elderly practitioners at TJM practiced Qigong activities for at least 30 min per day at home; the most frequently practiced were Shou Dan (Keeping Dan-tien) and meditation, which helped bring calmness and allow introspection. 5. Elderly practitioners at TJM experienced Qigong and considered “qi” a kind of energy and magnetic field; practicing Qigong activities required relaxation, calmness, natural manners and joy so as to develop uprightness, mindfulness, righteousness, and in turn a positive energy. 6. After joining regular Qigong activities, one’s improvement of physical and mental health was well recognized. 7. After joining regular Qigong activities, one could realize, reflect, and practice one’s goals and meanings of life. 8. After joining regular Qigong activities, one could enhance the flexibility by thinking better with positive ideas. 9. After joining regular Qigong activities, one could feel the sense of unity of the universe and then pursue a harmonious life. 10. Participating in regular Qigong activities allowed one to surpass oneself constantly, achieve breakthroughs and overcome challenges bravely. 11. Participating in regular Qigong activities developed one’s potential constantly and brought spiritual growth with increased positive energies. 12. The sustained driving force for elderly practitioners at TJM to join regular Qigong activities mainly came from their lifelong friendship with the shifu. 13. Elderly practitioners at TJM should be joyful and at ease, cultivating self and helping others; in the end, they shall head to the road of the start without any apprehension. II. Conclusions 1. There were five major motivations for elderly practitioners at TJM to participate in regular Qigong activities: having good health; family members’ support and encouragement; changing one’s temper through regular Qigong activities; being able to take care of themselves in the future and live with greater dignity; and having a good place to practice Qigong activities with a big family. 2. Elderly practitioners at TJM prioritized steady practice during the process of regular Qigong activities; the second priority was to actively take part in those activities and TJM’s branch affairs, and constantly accumulate positive energies through everyday’s solid practice with relaxation, calmness, natural manners, and joy. 3. After elderly practitioners at TJM joined regular Qigong activities, their spiritual health could be improved; they would be able to realize their goals and meanings of life, enhance their flexibility by thinking better, generate a sense of unity of the universe, surpass themselves constantly, and bring spiritual growth with increased positive energies. III. Suggestions 1. Suggestions for elderly practitioners at TJM: (1) Practice frequently and stably; visit the branch often and actively join the branch affairs and regular Qigong activities. (2) Practice Qigong activities for at least 30 min per day at home; calm your heart and do introspection through Shou Dan (Keeping Dan-tien) and meditation. (3) Surpass self constantly; be joyful and at ease by cultivating self and helping others; walk on the spiritual path from practicing individual love to great love. 2. Suggestions for TJM’s Qigong activity community: (1) Followers of TJM shall be dedicated to glorifying it and extend its branches across the globe. (2) National TJM branches shall increase daytime periods for Qigong activities. (3) All TJM branches shall encourage practitioners to participate in regular Qigong activities and branch affairs to develop their talent and potential. 3. Suggestions for the mentor practitioners: (1) Mentor practitioners shall be patient in listening to elderly practitioners’ sharing and understanding their needs. (2) Mentor practitioners shall advance their ability through continuous learning. 4. Suggestions for other elderly Qigong practitioners: (1) They should follow an enlightened shifu. (2) They should join a Qigong activity community that has a core idea and positive philosophy. (3) They should be persistent in practice, advance themselves through learning, and pass down cultures, experiences and wisdom. 5. Specific suggestions regarding subjects and the methodology were proposed for future researchers.

博士
國立中正大學
成人及繼續教育所
97
The purpose of this study is to explore the influences on wisdom and spiritual health of adults participating in the I-Kuan-Tao activities. It hopes to provide a conclusive result and suggestions for future reference by researcher or related department. This study adopts the methods of quantitative survey and qualitative interview. In the quantitative survey, 713 questionnaires were given out and 572 of the returned questionnaires are valid. The collected data is processed with SPSS 13.0 for windows. Descriptive statistics, T-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and General linear model are used. In the qualitative interview, six I-Kuan-Tao disciples with over ten years of religious activities participation were interviewed. The conclusions of this study are as follows: 1. In the aspect of wisdom of I-kuan-Tao disciples: (1) The scores for wisdom of I-kuan-Tao disciples are between moderate and high, particularly in “mercy and empathy”. (2) The differences in gender, marital status, educational level, financial status and affiliated section (college section, society section) have no significant influence on the area of “wisdom”. (3) The differences in age group, health status, duration of receiving Tao, duration of reading the scriptures, attitude, frequence of Tao activities, role and participation in the ten functional groups have a significant influence on the area of “Wisdom”. 2. In the aspect of spiritual health of I-kuan-Tao disciples: (1)The scores for spiritual health in I-kuan-Tao disciples are good, particularly in “meaningful living”. (2) The differences in gender, marital status, educational level and affiliated section (college section, society section) have no significant influence on the area of “spiritual health”. (3) The differences in age group, financial status, health status, duration of receiving Tao, duration of reading the scriptures, attitude, frequency of Tao activities, role and participation in the ten functional groups have a significant influence on the area of ‘spiritual health’. 3. There was strong positive correlation between wisdom and spiritual health. 4. In the aspect of foreseeing the “area of wisdom and spiritual health” among I-kuan-Tao disciple of variable backgrounds: The five demographic characteristics of I-kuan-Tao disciple that are able to foresee the “area of wisdom and spiritual health” are as follows: “above 9 times” in the frequency of Tao activities, “university and above” in the educational level, “lecturer training class and above” in Tao role, “good” in health status and “participation in the ten functional groups”. 5. The reasons for participation in Tao community and the motivations for continuing contact : (1) The reasons for participation in Tao community are as follows: to explore the truth of life, guidance from relatives and friends who are Tao disciples, support and encouragement from Tao disciples and temple keepers. (2) The motivations for continuing contact of Tao community are as follows: realization of life and death, understanding of the true meaning of life, sense of the Tao disciples’ contribution, warmth and harmony of the Tao community, the holy teaching and manifestation of Buddha, Saints and Sages that strengthened their faith in Tao. 6. There are positive influences on the wisdom and spiritual health of Tao disciples participating in the religious activities of I-kuan-Tao. According to the conclusions listed above, suggestions proposed as follows: 1. Suggestions to I-kuan-Tao disciples: (1) I-kuan-Tao disciples should take good care of their physical health. (2) The younger I-kuan-Tao disciples should consult and learn from the seniors. (3) I-kuan-Tao disciples should cultivate the habit of reading scriptures. (4) I-kuan-Tao disciples should adopt a positive and pro-active attitude in the participation of Tao activity. (5) I-kuan-Tao disciples are encouraged to participate in Tao activities. (6) I-kuan-Tao disciples are encouraged to participate in the Tao learning classes. (7) I-kuan-Tao disciples are encouraged to participate in the ten functional groups. 2. Suggestions to I-kuan-Tao community: (1) I-kuan-Tao should add more courses about healthy promotion. (2) I-kuan-Tao should show concern and support for I-Kuan-Tao disciples who have financial difficulty. (3) I-kuan-Tao should have more support and encouragement for I-kuan-Tao disciples who are highly engaged in the Tao activities. (4) I-kuan-Tao should periodically review the Tao learning classes for satisfactory and further improvement to the quality of the classes. 3. Suggestions to government: (1)The government should encourage the families reading the scriptures together. (2)The government should encourage the instute holding a conference of religion, and letting people have an opportunity to know the good idea of religion (3)The government should support the religious research and provide financial assistance for related studies. 4. Suggestions to the future study: (1) In the aspect of the participants: Future researchers should consider applying on different I-kuan-Tao community or religious groups such as Buddhism, Taoism, Christianism, and Catholicism. (2) In the aspect of the instruments: The instruments are only specific in this study. And it needs to be revised and developed when used in other study groups in the future. (3) In the aspect of other influencing factors: Future researchers should consider the other influencing factors such as social support system and personality that may affect wisdom and spiritual health.

碩士
國立臺灣師範大學
音樂學系在職進修碩士班
100
There are three main purposes for this study. To begin with, the study is to explore the effects of arts-related activities on the spiritual reconstruction of the flood-ravaged schools in southern Taiwan. Second, this study aims to understand whether there exist significant differences between teachers and students in terms of their perspectives on arts-related activities. In addition, the study also investigated the correlation between students’ acceptance of arts-related activities and spiritual reconstruction. To achieve specific purposes, the researcher first built up the theoretical foundation after reviewing relevant literature and then administered the self-adapted “The Assessment Scale for the Effects of Arts Accompanying Activities on Spiritual Reconstruction” and “Questionnaire on Arts-related Activities” to 321 students and 55 teachers in Taoyuan, Namaxia, and Jiaxian Districts in Kaohsiung City. Finally, the data from 280 students and 55 teachers in three schools was counted as valid samples and analyzed for further discussion. SPSS19 was used for data processing to conduct t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and Scheffe's post hoc comparison test and elicit descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The major findings of the study are summarized as follows: 1.There was a positive correlation between spiritual reconstruction and arts-related activities. However, the quantitative data indicated taking part in arts-related activities on a regular basis was conducive to improving family relations. 2.Most of the subjects, irrespective of gender, race, and religion, held positive attitudes towards arts accompanying activities. The study also showed teachers and students alike preferred dynamic activities in outdoor areas. 3.There was a positive correlation between spiritual reconstruction and arts-related activities for the students in hard-hit schools. The quantitative data also pointed to a strong correlation between family reconstruction and location of arts-related activities. Based on the results, the researcher made suggestions for further research in the field of spiritual reconstruction.

This thesis is concerned with the development of the church educational system and its mission in the educational scheme of the Czech Republic. It also explores the post- revolutionary development and contemporary legislative background of the church educational system. The key chapter is devoted to more than 150-year history of Archbishop Grammar School in Kroměříž - since its foundation, through the communist period, until its restoration and its present condition. Then a detailed analysis of the spiritual environment and catechetic activity presently performed at Archbishop Grammar School follows. The goal of this thesis is to map out currently used methods and catechetic models at Archbishop Grammar School, their effectiveness, their usage and available means, with which it is possible to work at the school. The whole thesis thus responds to the need of objective evaluation of catechetic activity at Archbishop Grammar School in Kroměříž and wants to contribute to further possible development of this activity in the spirit of bigger effectiveness.

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica.
A espiritualidade é uma dimensão que exerce uma influência sobre o bem-estar dos indivíduos, na medida em que possui um papel fundamental nos comportamentos, pensamentos e na vida geral das pessoas (Hadzic, 2011). Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal compreender o papel das caraterísticas disposicionais (Orientações para as Atividades e dos Fatores de Personalidade Básica) nas respostas de Bem-Estar Espiritual. Os instrumentos utilizados neste estudo foram o Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities Revised (HEMA-R), o Inventário de Personalidade dos Cinco Fatores (NEO-FFI-20), e o Spiritual Health and Life Orientation Measure (SHALOM). Neste estudo participaram 264 indivíduos com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 80 anos (M=37.17; DP=13.88), sendo que 78% são do sexo feminino e 22% do sexo masculino. Globalmente, os resultados deste estudo indicam que a orientação para as atividades mais eudemónica, os traços de personalidade amabilidade, conscienciosidade e abertura à experiência são os preditores significativos da maioria dos domínios de Bem-Estar Espiritual dos indivíduos. Ainda a extroversão demonstrou-se preditora significativa e negativa da maioria dos domínios da discrepância espiritual, indicando que os indivíduos com níveis elevados neste traço tendem a desenvolver o que corresponde ao seu ideal de espiritualidade. Consideramos que seria relevante mais estudos acerca da relação entre estes construtos, bem como acerca de mais caraterísticas disposicionais, de forma a explorar o que pode contribuir para a saúde espiritual dos indivíduos.
Spirituality is a dimension that has an influence on the well-being of individuals, insofar as it has a fundamental role in people's behaviors, thoughts and general life (Hadzic, 2011). This work had as main objective to understand the role of dispositional characteristics (Orientations for Activities and Personality Factors) in the answers of Spiritual Well-Being. The instruments used in this study were the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities Revised (HEMA-R), the Spiritual Health and Life Orientation Measure (SHALOM) and the Five Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI-20). This study involved 264 individuals aged between 18 and 80 years old (M = 37.17; SD = 13.88), with 78% being female and 22% male. Overall, the results of this study indicate that orientation towards eudemonic activities, personality traits, kindness, conscientiousness and openness to experience are the significant predictors of most domains of Spiritual Well-being of individuals. Furthermore, extroversion proved to be a significant and negative predictor of most domains of spiritual discrepancy, indicating that individuals with high levels in this trait tend to develop what corresponds to their ideal of spirituality. We believe that more studies on the relationship between these constructs would be relevant, as well as on more dispositional characteristics, in order to explore what can contribute to the spiritual health of individuals.

What’s God got to do with Sex? Exploring the relationship between Spiritual engagement and the sexual health activities of Samoan youth. Improving the health and social wellbeing of Pacific youth is a key priority for the New Zealand Government. When the Pacific youth population’s sexual health is compared with that of other ethnic groups in New Zealand there are clear disparities. At the same time, spiritual engagement is frequently noted as protecting young people from engaging in health-risk taking behaviours. Objectives: This study determines whether a relationship exists between patterns of spiritual engagement and the sexual health activities of Samoan attending secondary schools in New Zealand. Does going to church or rating spiritual beliefs as important influence the sexual health activities of Samoan youth? Method: This research analyses data from ‘Youth 2000’, a youth health and wellbeing survey conducted in 2001. The survey was conducted with approximately 10,000 New Zealand secondary school students which included 646 Samoan and 5219 New Zealand Europeans. Nine sexual health activities were explored. Data relating to spiritual engagement and the sexual health activities of Samoan and New Zealand European students were extracted from the survey, measured and compared. Results: A significant proportion of Samoan youth have not had sexual intercourse. Just under a third of Samoan students (32.1%) have had sexual intercourse, with the average age of first sexual intercourse around 14 years. Findings reveal that the spiritual engagement variables: church attendance and the importance of spiritual beliefs have mixed influences on the different sexual health activities of Samoan youth. Conclusions: This study reinforces the central importance of spiritual engagement in the lives of many Samoan secondary school students. Government policies and interventions require an understanding of key health behaviours and their related risk and protective factors specific to New Zealand youth.

The thesis deals with investigation of activities of Catholic sports association Czechoslovak Eagle from the beginning of the century to the Second World War. It describes its history and explains its most important activity with reference to the activities in South Bohemia, in particular in Jindřichův Hradec and Třeboň. It explains the aims of its work as well as the historical value with reference to particular examples. Its how is the main meaning in connection of spirituality and materialism. The first part describes the history of Czechoslovak Eagle, its foundation, organization, and, its most interesting historical moments. The second part describes its activities in the region of South Bohemia. The third part sets the Eagle's work in Třeboň into the historical context. The fourth does the same with the Eagle's work in Jindřichův Hradec.