Courage and Spirituality: Implications for Alternative and Complimentary Health Practices

Background: Stress and strain symptoms can be attenuated by beliefs in spirituality and attitudes of personal courage that influence health or performance outcomes. For example, in curriculums designed for increasing personal courage, students with higher levels of spiritual beliefs as well as higher levels of attitudes of courage, predicted health outcomes such as a reduction of personal stress and strain symptoms (Maddi, et al, 2006). Higher levels of courage also predicted increased performance outcomes such as grade-point-average (GPA) (Maddi, et al, 2006).

Method: Six undergraduate courses (N=691) were surveyed regarding attitudes about spirituality as well as courage and psychological hardiness. Independent variables included psychological courage and hardiness measures (e.g. Hardiness Survey; Maddi & Khoshaba, 2001) as well as spirituality measures (e.g. Spiritual Well-Being Scale; (Ellison, 1983). Dependent variables included physical strain symptom measures such as “nervousness, tension, upset stomach, et cetera, as well academic performance measures such as GPA.

Results: The multiple regression model fit was represented by R2adj = .253 for Courage and Spiritual Well-Being Attitudes predicting reduction in STress and Strain Symptoms . The overall relationship was significant F (1,689) = 59.46, p =.001. The multiple regression model fit was represented by R2adj = .024 for Courage attitudes predicting GPA . The overall relationship was significant F (1,689) = 77.65, p =.001.

Discussion: Alternative and Complimentary Health Practitioners should consider programs that bolster attitudes of courage as well as spiritual well-being as an adjunct to treatment protocols.