Article Critique: “Religion and Spirituality among Young Adults with Severe Mental Illness”
Martinez Sutton
Adler University
Religion and Spirituality among Young Adults with Severe Mental Illness
Introduction
The article, which is titled “Religion and Spirituality among Young Adults with Severe Mental Illness”, addresses a relatively new approach towards treating mental illness. The integration of Religion and Spirituality (RS) among patients suffering psychologically is a new phenomenon that is yet to be adopted in mental institutions. Although the article sufficiently describes the challenges youths encounter as they mature and how it influences their mental health in the introduction, there is no mention of Religion and Spirituality. RS has been addressed later after the introduction, which confuses the reader. A proper introduction should give a proper transition to the body of the article in order for the reader to follow.
Additionally, the introduction does not clearly state the purpose of the article. Instead, it portrays the challenges faced by youths while seeking mental help due to family, social, ethnic, and cultural factors. In this case, there is no mention of Religion and Spirituality acting as a factor in accessing mental health. Since the article involves examining whether young adults identify with RS in their mental healing, I feel like the purpose of the study is not stated clearly. Nevertheless, it does not follow logically from the problems of the study. On the contrary, the author has focused significantly on associating spirituality with mental healing. It is also not clear whether young adults who battle with serious mental illness are more spiritual than youths with mild mental illnesses.
Literature review
The literature review categorically presents Religion and Spirituality beginning with its definition, to its presence among young adults and finally on its influence on mental health. The author employed a good strategy of information since the reader gradually understands RS and its impact on mental status of young adults. Although the author has provided sufficient literature especially in terms of statistics, the information is still not enough to warrant a detailed background on the subject of research. Particularly, for a matter that is still new to mental health treatment, there should be more literature on how Religion and Spirituality affects young adults. It is also quite alarming that most of the literature on RS among young adults focuses on how they are unaffiliated with religion at their age. For a research that aims to establish the role RS plays in improving the mental health of young adults, a more positive correlation should have been adopted.
Alternatively, being a psychological paper there should be more literature explaining the psychological implications of religion and spirituality among young adults. The literature should be convincing to engage even young adults with no spiritual or religious background. However, the literature review has provided adequate information with regards to the diversity found with RS. This variety extends to include socioeconomic status, racial minority, and ethnicity where RS emerges as protective factors against stress and psychological distress. On another positive edge, the author does well to mention the positive advancements made in line with RS in mental health treatment. For example stating how continued research has facilitated the use of religiously integrated psychotherapies proves the practicability of the approach.
The numerous uncertain phrases in the review indicate the authors are not conversant with their subject. Although the authors show appreciation of related research they do not have a solid foundation of their research. Regardless, the authors have integrated authoritative statements of fellow researchers who have proved RS can be used in mental health treatment. In addition, the authors have acknowledged the weakness of related research by claiming that few attempts have been made to understand the role of RS within young adults’ mental health treatment. According to the review, results are more promising on older generations who identify more with religion and spirituality.
The use of citations and quotes is commendable. The authors have integrated external research and accounted for it by placing enough citations and quotes where necessary. Having such a considerable number or relevant literature review portrays the authors’ dedication on their research. Moreover, the authors have presented both arguments in favor and against their research subject. For instance, the authors recognize at some point in the review that some clients may use negative coping RS undesirable encounters that are associated with lower well-being and greater risks of health problems. Overall, admitting and giving literature on the possibility of negative RS among young adults adds to the credibility of the research by making it more realistic. Precisely, not all young adults share similar experiences with religion and spirituality when their mental health is at stake.
The review of the literature does indeed justify the need for this particular study. There are several research gaps noted throughout the literature review that need to be addressed. For instance, most of the review ascertain with no doubt that this approach can be highly successive among adults because they are more religious and spiritual. However, due to young adults’ vulnerability to mental issues as they transcend into adulthood, it is worth investing in RS among them. Essentially, the research study illuminates on the need to introduce Religion and Spirituality among young adults. Moreover, the authors used well-formatted research questions from the previous study that prompted RS among young adults with mental health problems.
Methodology & Research Procedure
The research design employed in this article is a cohort design. Since the purpose of the study was to establish whether Religion and Spirituality are factors of influence among young adults with mental illness, I can conclude the cohort design was appropriate. A cohort study is often used in sciences such as in this case of psychology. This research was conducted over a certain period involving members of a population (young adults) with RS as the subject matter. Similar to a cohort study, the representative members of the population under investigation have a commonality of mental illness. Using qualitative framework, this study gathers data using interviews within a specialized sub group, united by similar characteristics that are relevant to this research problem.
Being an open cohort research design, this study is practical to its research purpose. The population in question is dynamic because young adults do not succumb to mental illness at the same time. Therefore, the date of entry and exit from the study is individually defined and the study population is not constant at any given one time. Additionally, in this particular subject, the use of this research design is mandatory. Precisely, such a study can only be done on young individuals who have or are already suffering from mental illness. Research that measures risk factors often relies upon cohort designs, which in this case fulfills the research purpose.
On the other hand, using this design has facilitated the measuring of influence of RS before recovery of mentally ill young adults occurs. Nevertheless, considering the diversity of this study population in aspects such as race and social statuses, this research design’s flexibility provides insight into effects over time relative to a variety of changes. Finally, a cohort research design makes use of either original or secondary data. In this study, data which was collected from a mixed-methods study focused on the use of psychiatric emergency services was used.
Recruitment of participants to this research study has been done accordingly. In any qualitative research, it is always the aim of researchers to obtain the thoughts or opinions of a particular group of people who have experienced a certain phenomenon. Selecting relevant participants ensures that they are able to answer the research questions. For this study, relevant participants have been used. The sample included young adult patients who had a presenting diagnosis of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Additionally, the researchers built a ‘close’ relationship with the participants who were willing to take part in the study. In this regard, the participants provided credible information as they felt comfortable sharing with the researchers. In matters of health, potential participants were screened by the unit psychiatrist who contacted the study team when a patient agreed to participate.
Face to Face interviews were conducted by the second author as a method of data collection. Since the aim of the study was to obtain opinions and thoughts of the participants, interviews were appropriate. Face-to-Face interviews are a key qualitative data collection method for social research. This method was ideal in this case because the authors needed to attain highly personalized data and possibly get the chance for probing to get underlying factors. The suitability of this method also arose due to limited respondent who were willing to participate. Given the fact that these data was obtained from a previous research, the interviews provided information regarding Religion and Spirituality, which the interviewee was previously privy to.
There was no possible biasness detected in the research. The authors carefully noted the respondents’ words in the exact way they were said. When it came to the participants’ opinions, the authors made sure to put them in separate quotes. Moreover, the semi-structured interview guides contained questions that were framed neutrally. The sample was also not biased; it consisted of the right group and was interviewed by the right professionals such as master’s or doctoral-level clinicians trained in social work or professional counseling with prior experience in providing mental health treatment. When it came to reporting, the authors were also conscious of the participant’s experiences, beliefs, culture, views and state of mind.
Results and Conclusion of the Findings
With regards to the subject matter, the authors reported the data appropriately. Interviewers asked additional open-ended probative questions to better understand the nature of the problem and the role of others in getting them to the crisis unit, but there was no explicit focus on RS. However, considering the persistent mentioning of RS among the participants this study was approached as a secondary analysis of the young adults’ narratives of help seeking using an applied thematic analytic method. Essentially, using the thoroughness employed in obtaining themes used by the authors, I agree with the themes reported. The team met several times to refine and discuss coding as well as unpack overarching themes to determine the final results.
Given the results, there are several clinical implications for considerations. The study brought to light a gap in the literature on RS in vulnerable young adults suffering from mental illness. Though not directly assessed in the interview, RS organically emerged in a variety of ways among the participants. The conclusion of the study emphasized the importance of mental health care providers’ integration religion and spirituality in the treatment of mentally ill young adults. Therefore, to the extent which the patients desired, it could be beneficial to implement tailored interventions that intentionally assess for and include this component of their lives. Though indirectly, this research achieved credible results for the subject matter under investigation. The fact that RS content emerged with such frequency without specific prompts is notable. This revelation on the need for future research achieves the purpose of the research, which is the role of RS in mental illness management. They were no surprises in the study.
The research portrayed some strengths, which include first, the narrative reports were more accessible that statistical tables. Second, sampling focused on high value subjects. Third, multiple sources provided understanding of complex situations and behavior of young adults suffering mentally. There were also notable weaknesses such as first, the data gathering process was time consuming. Second, conclusions could not be generalized since they only covered three mental illnesses. Third, the research’s sample our sample faced extremely adverse situations and was hospitalized in a short stay, voluntary, crisis stabilization unit in the south for those who are uninsured.
There were three multicultural concerns that I may have had regarding this research. However, they were all addressed. When it came to participants, diversity in terms of culture, race, and social status was observed. The authors noted the young adults’ experience with abuse, poverty, access to mental and health services, homelessness, and near death encounters. Ethically, the authors only interviewed willing participants. They also did not disclose their identities in terms of official names, and the interviewers established close human relations that warranted them an easy time as they conducted the study. Observing research integrity is important because it creates trust. Particularly, researchers need to trust each other’s work and must also be trusted by society whose lives their research may impact.
Part B:
Personal Opinions regarding Qualitative Research
Unlike quantitative research, qualitative methods of study do not impose strict rules and procedures. Instead, they derive the research process from the data itself. One process often leads to the development of the next step (Smith, 2015). Qualitative methods allow richness of personal experience by providing detailed information in the natural language of the experience. Specifically, qualitative methods allow looking at the “entire rather than the parts”. For instance, hypothesis testing, as found in quantitative methods may be examining the wrong question. I think it is far better to have an approximate answer to the right question than to have an exact answer to the wrong question. While this statement may be offensive to quantitative researchers, it does emphasize the importance of stating the proper research question when committing to a quantitative method. For this reason, qualitative studies are starting to be considered an essential contributor to the body of knowledge.
Characteristics of Qualitative Research
First, the design of qualitative researches is quite outstanding. It employs a naturalistic approach where it studies real-world situations as they unfold naturally. In this case, the researcher is open to whatever transpires. The design is also dynamic in that it allows for the adaptation if inquiry as understanding deepens or situations change. The researcher stays clear of rigid designs, which prevent responding to opportunities of pursuing new paths as they evolve. Moreover, the design is often purposeful because the cases selected are illuminative and impactful to the society.
Second, qualitative research follows a distinct method of data collection. Data observations yield detailed understanding of the subject matter. For example, interviews capture direct quotations regarding people’s personal perspectives and lived experiences. Data gathering is entails personal experience and engagement. The research gets into personal contact with the people, situation, and phenomena under investigation. In this regard, qualitative research requires researchers to be neutral in showing empathy while working with study respondents. Finally, data collection is a dynamic system, which assumes change is ongoing regardless of the focus being on an individual, organization, or community.
Third, another distinguishing factor in qualitative research is its analysis. This type of study follows a unique case orientation where each case is unique and special. It is necessary to follow integrity when capturing details of individual cases under study. The analysis process is also inductive, where details and specifics of the data are observed to discover important patterns, themes, and inter-relationships. This is commonly done through coding. Qualitative analysis is also context –sensitive. The researcher is cautious about the possibility or meaningfulness of generalizations across time and space. A qualitative methodologist is reflective about his/her own voice. A credible voice portrays authenticity and trustworthiness.
Criteria in Assessing Quality of a Qualitative research
Trustworthiness of a qualitative research: Since qualitative researchers do not use instruments with established metrics about reliability and validity, there are criteria employed to determine the trustworthiness of a qualitative research. These criteria include: Credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability.
Credibility is the level of confidence a researcher has on the truth behind his/her research findings. It establishes whether research findings represent plausible information obtained from the participants’ original data and is a correct interpretation of their authentic views (Smith, 2015).
Transferability is the degree to which research findings can be transferred to other cases or setting with other respondents. The researcher facilitates the transferability judgment by a potential user through thick description.
Dependability refers to the extent that the study could be re-used by other researchers and still maintains consistency in the findings. A qualitative researcher can use inquiry audit to ascertain dependability of his/her research (Smith, 2015).
Confirmability involves the level to which the findings of the research study could be confirmed by other researchers (Smith, 2015). It establishes that data and interpretations of the findings are not figments but clearly obtained from the data.
References
Oxhandler, H. K., Narendorf, S. C., & Moffatt, K. M. (2018). Religion and Spirituality Among Young Adults With Severe Mental Illness. Spirituality in Clinica Practice , 188-200.
Smith, J. A. (2015). Qualitative Psychology: A Practical Guide to Research Methods. Califonia: SAGE.