Do spiritual ceremonies affect participants' quality of life? A pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
As an attempt to explore and quantify the potential effects of spiritual ceremonies, the present study evaluated the effect of a spiritual ceremony on four independent facets of quality of life.


METHODS
Overall, ten persons participated in a half-day spiritual ceremony. Participants completed a survey on quality of life (a) four weeks prior to the ceremony (T1), (b) three days before (T2) and (c) four weeks after the ceremony (T3).


RESULTS
Statistical analyses demonstrated that the ceremony had a positive effect on spiritual and mental quality of life. The ceremony did not enhance participants' physical and emotional quality of life. Implications for future research are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Spiritual ceremonies might serve as a booster for spiritual and mental quality of life.
Technical University of Dortmund, Center for Continuing Education, Hohe Strasse 141, 44139 Dortmund, Germany.
Paul D
PD
Hewson
Jens
J
Rowold
D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D029181:Spirituality