Religion, spirituality and personal recovery among forensic patients

Date12 August 2019
Pages190-200
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-05-2019-0021
Published date12 August 2019
AuthorEmily Glorney,Sophie Raymont,Amy Lawson,Jessica Allen
Subject MatterHealth & social care
Religion, spirituality and personal recovery
among forensic patients
Emily Glorney, Sophie Raymont, Amy Lawson and Jessica Allen
Abstract
Purpose Religion and spirituality are well-researched concepts within the field of psychology and mental
health yet they have rarely been researched in high-secure services within the UK. Research in mental health
and prison contexts suggests benefits of religion/spirituality to coping, social support, self-worth, symptoms
of depression and anxiety and behavioural infractions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of
religion/spirituality in high-secure service userspersonal recovery.
Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 13 male patients in a
high-secure hospital, with primary diagnoses of mental illness (n¼11) or personality disorder (n ¼2).
Participants were from a range of religious/spiritual backgrounds and were asked about how their beliefs
impact their recovery and care pathways within the hospital. Data were analysed using interpretative
phenomenological analysis.
Findings Three superordinate themes were identified: religion and spirituality as providing a framework for
recovery;religion and spirituality as offering key ingredients in the recovery process; and barriers to
recovery through religion/spirituality. The first two themes highlight some of the positive aspects that aid
participantsrecovery. The third theme reported hindrances in participantsreligious/spiritual practices and
beliefs. Each theme is discussed with reference to sub-themes and illustrative excerpts.
Practical implications Religion/spirituality might support therapeutic engagement for some service users and
staff could be more active in their enquiry of the value that patients place on the personal meaning of this for their life.
Originality/value For the participants in this study, religion/spirituality supported the principles of recovery,
in having an identity separate from illness or offender, promoting hope, agency and personal meaning.
Keywords Religion, Forensic mental health, Spirituality, High secure, Recovery approach,
Therapeutic engagement
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Religion and spirituality are related constructs that can be integratedinto daily life (Hill et al.,2000;
Hill and Pargament,2008). As an individual and institutional construct (Hill and Pargament,2008),
religion is definedas a personal belief in God or higher power and a dedication to a beliefsystem
and practices traditional to a group of individuals (Hill and Pargament, 2008). Spirituality has been
defined as those issues of personal identity and experience that motivates individuals outside of
their day-to-daylives (Galanter et al., 2011), a beliefin a higher being and sense of connectedness
(e.g. Cornah, 2006), but can be experienced within an organised religious context. Both religion
and spirituality have a positive impact on individualslives. Research from non-forensic contexts
indicates that religion and spirituality provide an individual with social support (Bradley, 1995;
Ellison and George,1994), act as a coping strategy in response to stressful life events (Clearet al.,
2000; Pargament, 2001; Park, 2005) and emotions and daily difficulties (Hefti, 2011; Longo and
Peterson, 2002), give an individual a sense of meaning and self-worth (Hefti, 2011; Mohr and
Huguelet, 2004; Steger and Frazier, 2005) and have positive implications for physical and mental
health (George et al., 2000; Miller and Thoresen, 2003; Seybold and Hill, 2001).
In terms of therapeutic engagement, patients with religious/spiritual beliefs thought their religious
practices were compatible with treatment (Huguelet et al., 2006) and patients in religious and
Received 21 May 2019
Revised 27 June 2019
Accepted 27 June 2019
The authors thank the following for
their contributions to this research:
Darren Lumbard, Abbie McGrath,
the hospital chaplaincy, and
participants.
Emily Glorney is based at
Royal Holloway, University of
London, Egham, UK and
University of Surrey,
Guildford, UK.
Sophie Raymont is based at
University College London,
London, UK and University of
Surrey, Guildford, UK.
Amy Lawson and Jessica Allen
are both based at the University
of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
PAGE190
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
VOL. 21 NO. 3 2019, pp. 190-200, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794 DOI 10.1108/JFP-05-2019-0021

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT