Power and Spirituality in Polio Survivors: A Study Based on Rogers' Science

Abstract

Rogers' model was used to study patterns of power and spirituality in polio survivors (n = 172) and people who have not had polio (n = 80). Participants completed the Power as Knowing Participation in Change Test and the Spiritual Orientation Inventory. Power was positively related to spirituality (r = .34, p < .005). Polio survivors manifested the same power (t = .44, df = 250, p = .33) and greater spirituality than people who had not experienced polio (t = 3.79, df = 250, p < .001), indicating that patterns of human field change are related to surviving polio. Recommendations include replicating this study with other populations and continuing to develop a theory of spirituality within Rogers' framework.

Spiritual coping strategies: a review of the nursing research literature

“…Apart from the religious practice of believing in God, Smith (1995) identified other spiritual coping mechanisms in a random sample of 172 polio survivors and 80 persons with no polio in USA. By the use of the Spirituality Orientation Inventory (Elkins et al .…”

“…Apart from the religious practice of believing in God, Smith (1995) identi®ed other spiritual coping mechanisms in a random sample of 172 polio survivors and 80 persons with no polio in USA. By the use of the Spirituality Orientation Inventory (Elkins et al 1988), it was revealed that polio survivors coped with their illness by increasing their awareness and insights in life and by appreciating more the love and support of the ones around.…”

Spirituality and job satisfaction among female Jewish Israeli hospital nurses

“…The SOI has been used in a number of studies focusing on spirituality (e.g. Lauri & Elkins 1988, Zainuddin 1993, Smith 1995, Sherman 1996, Tloczynski et al. 1997, Morris 2001).…”

Recognizing Spirituality

“…In Sherman's (1996) study, a positive relationship was found between spirituality and nurses' willingness to care for patients with AIDS. Smith (1995) found a positive relationship between power and spirituality in polio survivors. Findings of a study by Landis (1996) conducted with people having chronic health problems suggested that spiritual well-being may be an important internal resource for living with a long-term illness.…”

“…When does a person experience spirituality? Traumatic life events may lead to an increased awareness of spirituality (Smith, 1995). Indeed, difficult situations can provide a person with the opportunity to grow spiritually; however, traumatic events are not prerequisite.…”