title: Measuring spirituality as a universal human experience: a review of spirituality questionnaires.
abstract: Spirituality is an important theme in health research, since a spiritual orientation can help people to cope with the consequences of a serious disease. Knowledge on the role of spirituality is, however, limited, as most research is based on measures of religiosity rather than spirituality. A questionnaire that transcends specific beliefs is a prerequisite for quantifying the importance of spirituality among people who adhere to a religion or none at all. In this review, we discuss ten questionnaires that address spirituality as a universal human experience. Questionnaires are evaluated with regard to psychometric properties, item formulation and confusion with well-being and distress. Although none of the questionnaires fulfilled all the criteria, the multidimensional Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire is promising.
authors.affiliation: Helen Dowling Institute, Care for Cancer, Rubenslaan 190, 3582 JJ, Utrecht, The Netherlands. e.dejager@hdi.nl
authors.forename: Eltica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Jager Meezenbroek
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Garssen
authors.forename: Machteld
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Dierendonck
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Wilmar B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Schaufeli
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012945:Social Values; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*