Comparing Behavioral Health Graduate Students in Spiritual and Religious Competence

Year 2018, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 197 - 221, 15.08.2018

Jennifer S. Park Kathleen Arveson Mark Newmeyer Lee A. Underwood

Abstract

When it comes to the integration of spirituality and religion within mental health training, standards remain ambiguous, particularly in non-religious affiliated institutions and individual practitioners. The aim of this study sought to examine the competence levels of mental health graduate students utilizing the Revised Spiritual Competence Scale II (SCS-R-II) and the Spiritual and Religious Competency Assessment (SARCA). Participants were recruited by contacting over 68 program directors of both Christian and secular accredited counseling, psychology, and social work schools in the United States and through the Counselor Education and Supervision Network Listserv and American Psychological Association of Graduate Students directory. 125 students with varying degrees of professed religious affiliation, completed the survey. Counselor trainees scored highest on both measures, yet without statistical significance. Students with very strong personal religious affiliation and attendees of Christian affiliated schools scored statistically higher on both measures. Findings indicated Christian institutions and trainees who professed very high Christian affiliation seemed to possess greater competence at integrating spiritual and religious constructs within mental health counseling. However, the results are limited due to sample size. Further, results pointed to convergent validity for the SCS-R-II and SARCA. Implications and future recommendations for behavior science educators and clinicians are discussed.

Keywords

Spirituality, Religion, SCS-R-II, SARCA, Spiritual Integration Competence

Davranışsal Sağlık Lisansüstü Öğrencilerinin Manevi ve Dinsel Yetkinlikler Açısından Karşılaştırılması

Abstract

Ruh sağlığı eğitimi ile maneviyat ve din bütünleşmesinde standartlar, özellikle dini olmayan kurumlar ve bireysel uygulamacılar söz konusu olduğunda muğlak kalmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı ruh sağlığı lisansüstü öğrencilerinin yeterlik düzeylerini Revize Edilmiş Ruhsal Yetkinlik Ölçeği II (SCS-R-II) ve Ruhsal ve Dinsel Yetkinlik Ölçümü’nü (SARCA) kullanarak incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Katılımcılara, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nde akredite olan, psikolojik danışmanlık, psikoloji ve sosyal çalışma alanlarındaki 68’in üzerinde gerek Hıristiyan, gerekse seküler yönelimli programların yöneticileri ile görüşülerek; Danışmanlık Eğitim ve Süpervizyon Ağı Listeleri ve Amerikan Psikoloji Derneği Lisansüstü Öğrenciler Dizini aracılığıyla ulaşılmıştır. Değişen düzeylerde dinsel bağlılıkları olduğunu bildiren 125 öğrenci ölçekleri tamamlamıştır. Danışmanlık öğrencileri, istatistiksel olarak anlamlı olmamakla birlikte her iki ölçümde de en yüksek düzeyleri sergilemişlerdir. Çok güçlü kişisel dini bağlılığı olan veya Hristiyan okullarına devam eden öğrenciler her iki ölçümde de istatistiksel olarak daha yüksek puanlar almışlardır. Bulgulara göre Hıristiyan kurumlarına kayıtlı olan veya çok yüksek düzeyde Hıristiyanlıkla ilişkili olduğunu ifade eden kursiyerler ruh sağlığı danışmanlığı kapsamında manevi ve dini yapıları bütünleştirme konusunda daha fazla yetkinliğe sahip görünmektedirler. Ancak, örneklem büyüklüğü nedeniyle sonuçlar sınırlıdır. Ayrıca, sonuçlar SCSR- II ve SARCA ölçeklerinin yakınsak geçerlilik düzeyinin yeterli olduğuna işaret etmektedir. Bulguların davranış bilimi eğitimcileri ve klinisyenleri için doğurguları ve geleceğe yönelik öneriler tartışılmıştır.

Keywords

Maneviyat, Din, SCS-R-II, SARCA, Maneviyatı Bütünleştirme Yeterliliği

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