Self-Transcendence and Spiritual Well-Being in the Amish

Abstract

Self-transcendence, the ability to expand one's relationship to others and the environment, has been found to provide hope which helps a person adapt and cope with illness. Spiritual well-being, the perception of health and wholeness, can boost self-confidence and self esteem. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to describe the relationship between self-transcendence and spiritual well-being in adult Amish. A random sample of Old Order Amish was surveyed by postal mail; there were 134 respondents. Two valid and reliable questionnaires were used to measure the key variables. The participants had high levels of self-transcendence and spiritual well-being and there was a statistically significant positive relationship between the two variables. The findings from this study will increase nurses' awareness of the holistic nature of the Amish beliefs and assist nurses in serving this population. Additional research is needed to develop further understanding of the study variables among the Amish.

The relationships between self‐transcendence and spiritual well‐being in cognitively intact nursing home patients

“…Previous research has examined ST in relation to well‐being (Coward, , ; Runquist & Reed, ; Hoshi, ; Thomas et al ., ; Sharpnack et al ., ) and quality of life (QoL) (Mellors et al ., ; Bean & Wagner, ; Farren, ), showing statistically significant positive correlations. Accordingly, ST might provide a framework for nursing interventions promoting well‐being in NH patients.…”

Nurse–patient interaction is a resource for hope, meaning in life and self‐transcendence in nursing home patients

“…The nursing theory of self‐transcendence addresses an enhanced understanding of well‐being and spirituality in late adulthood, stating self‐transcendence as a correlate and resource for well‐being in vulnerable populations . This idea is supported by several studies examining self‐transcendence in relation to well‐being in vulnerable populations and QoL , as well as in NH patients . The core of self‐transcendence is to expand self‐boundaries through connectedness .…”

Self‐transcendence, nurse–patient interaction and the outcome of multidimensional well‐being in cognitively intact nursing home patients

“…However, a recent investigation demonstrates that self-transcendence involves one interpersonal and one intrapersonal factor (32). Most studies link self-transcendence to well-being in a variety of populations (33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43). Previous research exists among vulnerable populations such as those with AIDS (36,38) and cancer (30,34,40,41), as well as the homeless (26).…”