Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Enhancing Sense of Coherence and Mindfulness in an Ecclesiastical, Intercultural Group Training Context

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sense of coherence (SOC) and mindfulness (MI) are believed to promote the health and well-being of individuals and organisations. The aim of this longitudinal study was to contribute to the literature on the development of SOC through training and interventions and thereby explore the development of these constructs in a group of senior professionals in the German Catholic Church. A sample of eight participants voluntarily enrolled for a 12-day training programme spread over a period of nine months to develop intercultural and inter-religious competencies, SOC and MI. Quantitative scores of the pre- and post-test SOC and MI questionnaires were qualitatively analysed. Results indicate that the majority of participants scored lower in the post-test on SOC and slightly higher in MI. The discussion explores the pitfalls in the development of these constructs in the study’s participants and highlights the implications for theory and practice. Practical training implications for developing SOC and MI are offered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ando, M., Natsume, T., Kukihara, H., Shibata, H., & Ito, S. (2011). Efficacy of mindfulness-based meditation therapy on the sense of coherence and mental health of nurses. Health, 3(2), 118–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonovsky, A. (1979). Health, stress and coping. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonovsky, A. (1987). Unraveling the mystery of health: how people manage stress and stay well. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binder, H. P., Mesenholl-Strehler, E., Pab, P., & Endler, P. C. (2006). Sense of coherence (SOC) among psychotherapists in Austria differentiated according to number of individually completed training therapy session. TSW Holistic Health and Medicine, 1, 232–235. doi:10.1100/tswhhm.2006.195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., et al. (2004). Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11(3), 230–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonde, L. O. (2004). The Bonny method of guided imagery and music (BMGIM) with cancer survivors: A psychosocial study with focus on the influence of BMGIM on mood and quality of life. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.

  • Brown, K., & Ryan, R. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 822–848.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bryman, A., Stephens, M., & Å Campo, C. (1996). The importance of context: Qualitative research and the study of leadership. Leadership Quarterly, 7(3), 353–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchheld, N., Grossman, P., & Walach, H. (2001). Measuring mindfulness in insight meditation (Vipassana) and meditation-based psychotherapy: The development of the Freiburg mindfulness inventory (FMI). Journal for Meditation and Meditation Research, 1(1), 11–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, K. (2013). Study: Catholic parishes are increasingly multicultural. Religion news service, November 18. http://ncronline.org/news/study-catholic-parishes-are-increasingly-multicultural

  • Büssing, A., Baumann, K., Jacobs, C., & Frick, E. (2016). Spiritual dryness in Catholic priests: Internal resources as possible buffers. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 51(3), 318–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Büssing, A., Janko, A., Baumann, K., Hvidt, N. C., & Kopf, A. (2013). Spiritual needs among patients with chronic pain diseases and cancer living in a secular society. Pain Medicine, 14(9), 1362–1373.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carmody, J., Reed, G., Kristeller, J., & Merriam, P. (2008). Mindfulness, spirituality, and health-related symptoms. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 64(4), 393–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Christopher, J. C., Chrisman, J. A., Trotter-Mathison, M. J., Schure, M. B., Dahlen, P., & Christopher, S. B. (2011). Perception of the long-term influence of mindfulness training on counselors and psychotherapists: A qualitative inquiry. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 51(3), 318–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collis, J., & Hussey, R. (2003). Business research: A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students (2nd ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummings, J. P., & Pargament, K. I. (2010). Medicine for the spirit: Religious coping in individuals with medical conditions. Religions, 1(1), 28–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daoud, N., Braun-Lewensohn, O., Eriksson, M., & Sagy, S. (2014). Sense of coherence and depressive symptoms among low-income Bedouin women in the Negev, Israel. Journal of Mental Health, 23(6), 307–311.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dilthey, W. (1976). Selected writings. Cambridge: Cambridge University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobkin, P. L., & Zhao, Q. (2011). Increased mindfulness—the active component of the mindfulness-based reducation program? Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 17, 22–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dundas, I., Vøllestad, J., Binder, P.-E., & Sivertsen, B. (2013). The five factor mindfulness questionnaire in Norway. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 54(4), 250–260.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunne, F. (2007). Prevalence of HPV infection among females in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association, 42, 854–871.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellingson, L. L. (2013). Analysis and representation across the continuum. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Collecting and interpreting qualitative materials (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson, M., Sagy, S., & Lindström, B. (2012). A salutogenetic perspective on mental health across the life time. Cultural aspects on the sense of coherence. In C.-H. Mayer & C. Krause (Eds.), Exploring mental health: Theoretical and empirical discourses on salutogenesis (pp. 142–156). Lengerich: Pabst Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foureur, M., Besley, K., Burton, G., Yu, N., & Crisp, J. (2013). Enhancing the resilience of nurses and midwives: Pilot of a mindfulness-based program for increased health, sense of coherence and decreased depression, anxiety and stress. Contemporary Nurse, 45(1), 114–125.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franke, A., & Witte, M. (2009). Das HEDE-training ® . Manual zur Gesundheitsförderung auf Basis der Salutogenese. Bern: Huber.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gacia-Moya, I., Rivera, F., & Moreno, C. (2013). School context and health in adolescence: The role of sense of coherence. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 54(3), 243–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geertz, C. (1987). La interpretación de las culturas. Barcelona: Gedisa.

    Google Scholar 

  • German Catholic Bishops’ Conference Report. (2012). http://jstor.org

  • Gimpel, C., Von Scheidt, C., Jose, G., Sonntag, U., Stefano, G. B., Michalsen, A., et al. (2014). Changes and interactions of flourishing, mindfulness, sense of coherence, and quality of life in patients of a mind-body medicine outpatient clinic. Forschende Komplementärmedizin, 21, 154–162.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glanz, L., Williams, R., & Hoeksema, L. (2001). Sensemaking in expatriation—a theoretical basis. Thunderbild International Business Review, 41(1), 101–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of Grounded Theory. Chicago, IL: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, J. M., & Mack, D. A. (2004). Preparing for battle: Healthy leadership during organisational crisis. Organisational Dynamics, 33(4), 409–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gummer, C. (2014). Losing faith. Wall Street Journal, 1.

  • Gyllenstein, A. L., Ekdahl, C., & Hansson, L. (2009). Long-term effectiveness of basic body awareness therapy in psychiatric outpatient care: A randomized controlled study. Advances in Physiotherapy, 11, 2–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., & Shenk, C. (2004). Operationalizing mindfulness without unnecessary attachments. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11(3), 249–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrikx, T., Nilsson, M., & Westman, G. (2008). Sense of coherence in three cross-sectional studies in Northern Sweden 1994, 1999 and 2004—patterns among men and women. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 36(4), 340–345.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgins, H. S., & Knee, C. R. (2002). The integrating self and conscious experience. In E. L. Deci & R. M. Ryan (Eds.), Handbook of self-determination research (pp. 87–100). Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, L. (2016). Making time and space: the impact of mindfulness training on nursing and midwifery practice. A critical interpretative synthesis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 25(7.8), 918–929.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huss, D. B., & Baer, R. A. (2007). Acceptance and change: The integration of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy into ongoing dialectical behaviour therapy in a case of boderline personality disorder with depression. Clinical Case Studies, 6, 17–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Idan, O., Braun-Lewensohn, O., & Sagy, S. (2013). Qualitative, sense of coherence-based assessment of working conditions in a psychiatric in-patient unit to guide salutogenic interventions. In G. F. Bauer & G. J. Jenny (Eds.), Salutogenic organizations and change: The concepts behind organizational health intervention research. Dordrecht: © Springer Science + Business Media. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6470-5_4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Irving, J. A., Dobkin, L., & Park, J. (2009). Cultivating mindfulness in health care professionals: A review of empirical studies of mindfulness-based stress-reduction (MBSR). Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 15, 61–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Isacco, A., Sahler, E., Hamilton, S., Mannarino, M. B., Sim, W., & St Jean, M. (2014). A qualitative study of mental health help-seeking amonst Catholic priests. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 17(7), 741–757.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, C. (2012). Salutogenese: Vom Zauberwort zum theologischen Paradigma. Lebendiges Zeugnis, 2, 107–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, C. (2013). Seht doch auf eure Berufung (1 Kor 1,26)—Priestersein in Zeiten pastoralen Wandels. das Prisma, 25(2), 25–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, C. (2014). Werdet stark durch die Kraft und Macht des Herrn (Eph 6,10): Vom Burnout zur Salutogenese! das Prisma, 26(2), 25–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, C., & Bredbeck, M. (2010). Das Geheimnis des Türhüters: Priester als Brückenbauer im Umbruch. Lebendige Seelsorge, 2, 106–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jambrak, J., Dean, F. P., & Williams, V. (2014). Value motivations predict burnout and intentions to leave among mental health professionals. Journal of Mental Health, 23(3), 120–124.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jankowski, P.-J., & Sandage, S. J. (2014). Meditative prayer and intercultural competence: Empirical test of a differentiation-based model. Mindfulness, 5, 360–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeserich, F. (2013). Can sense of coherence be modified by religious/spiritual interventions? A critical appraisal of previous research. Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, 9, 1–36. http://www.religjournal.com/pdf/ijrr09005.pdf

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (2006). Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 144–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full catastrophe living. How to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation. London: Piatkus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kähönen, K., Näätänen, P., Tolwanen, A., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2012). Development of sense of coherence during two group interventions. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 53(6), 523–527.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny, P. (2015). February 2. German Protestants and Catholics flee churches after compulsory taxes imposed. Ecumenical News, 2 February 2015. http://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/german-protestants-and-catholics-flee-churches-after-compulsory-taxes-imposed/28183.htm

  • Kirmayer, L. J. (2015). Mindfulness in cultural context. Transcultural Psychiatry, 52(4), 447–469.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kohls, N., Sauer, S., & Walach, H. (2009a). Facets of mindfulness—results of an online study investigation of the Freiburg mindfulness inventory. Personality and Individual Differences, 46, 224–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohls, N., Walach, H., & Lewith, G. (2009b). The impact of positive and negative spiritual experiences on distress and the moderating of mindfulness. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 31(3), 357–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Körlin, D., & Wrangsjö, B. (2002). Treatment effects of GIM therapy. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 11, 3–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krause, C., & Mayer, C.-H. (2012). Gesundheitsressourcen erkennen und fördern. Ein Trainingsprogramm für pädagogische Fachkräfte. Göttingen: V and R.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindström, B., & Eriksson, M. (2010). The hitchhiker’s guide to salutogenesis: Salutogenic pathways to health promotion. Helsinki: Folkhälsan Research Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie, C. S., Poulin, P. A., & Seidman-Carlson, R. (2006). A brief mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention for nurses and nurses’ aides. Applied Nursing Research, 19(2), 105–109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Majumdar, M., Grossman, P., Dietz-Waschkowski, B., Kersig, S., & Walach, H. (2002). Does mindfulness meditation contribute to health? Outcome evaluation of a German sample. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 8(6), 719–730.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manotas, M., Segura, C., Eraso, M., Oggins, J., & McGovern, K. (2014). Association of brief mindfulness training with reductions in perceived stress and distress in Colombian health care professionals. International Journal of Stress Management, 21(2), 207–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matousek, R. H., & Dobkin, P. L. (2010). Weathering storms: A cohort study of how participation in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program benefits women after breast cancer treatment. Current Oncology, 17(4), 62–70.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H. (2011). The meaning of sense of coherence in transcultural management. Münster: Waxmann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H. & Boness, C.M. (2009). Conflict, identity and sense of coherence in managers. A case study from South Africa. Journal of Contemporary Management, 6, 39–63. http://www.sabinet.co.za/abstracts/jcman/jcman_v6_a3.html. ISSN:18157440

  • Mayer, C.-H., & Boness, C. M. (2013). Creating mental health across cultures. Coaching and training for managers. Lengerich: Pabst.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C-H., & Krause, C. (2011). Promoting mental health and salutogenesis in transcultural organisational and work contexts. International Review of Psychiatry, 23(6), 495–500.

  • Mayer, C.-H., & Krause, C. (Eds.). (2012). Exploring mental health: Theoretical and empirical discourses on salutogenesis. Lengerich: Pabst Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H., & Van Zyl, L. E. (2013). Perspectives of female leaders on sense of coherence and mental health in an engineering environment. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology. doi:10.4102/sajip.v39i2.1097.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C.-H., Viviers, R., Flotman, A. P., & Schneider-Stengel, D. (2016a). Developing senior ecclesiastical professionals’ emotional and cultural intelligence: A longitudinal preliminary case study research investigation. Journal of Intercultural Communication. http://www.immi.se/intercultural/nr41/mayer.html

  • Mayer, C.-H., Viviers, R., Flotman, A. P., & Schneider-Stengel, D. (2016b). A longitudinal case study: The development of exceptional human experiences in senior ecclesiastical professionals in the Catholic Church. Journal of Religion and Health. doi:10.1007/s10943-016-0212-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, O., Pollack, D., & Pickel, G. (2012). The religious landscape in Germany: Secularizing West—secularized East. In D. Pollack, O. Müller, & G. Pickel (Eds.), The social significance of religion in the enlarged Europe. Secularization, individualization and plaralization (pp. 95–120). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller, Y., & Rothmann, S. (2009). Sense of coherence and employees’ perceptions of helping and restraining factors in an organisation. South African Journal for Industrial Psychology, 35(1), 89–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neff, K. D. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2, 85–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niemiec, R. M., Rashid, T., & Spinella, M. (2012). Strong mindfulness: Integrating mindfulness and character strengths. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 34(3), 240–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Reilly, K. (2012). Ethnographic returning, qualitative longitudinal research and the reflexive analysis of social practice. Sociological Review, 60, 518–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pakkala, I., Read, S., Sipilä, S., Portegijs, E., Kallinen, M., Heinonen, A., et al. (2012). Effects of intensive strength-power training on sense of coherence among 60 85-year-old people with hip fracture: A randomized controlled trial. Ageing Clinical and Experimental Research, 24(3), 295–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative evaluation and research methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, D. Z. (2014). The concept of prayer. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piet, J., Hougaard, E., Hecksher, M. S., & Rosenberg, N. K. (2010). A randomized pilot study of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and group cognitive-behavioral therapy for young adults with social phobia. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 51, 403–410.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pretorius, C., Walker, S. P., & Heyns, P. M. (2009). Sense of coherence amongst male caregivers in dementia: A South African perspective. Dementia, 8, 79–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivera, F., Garcia-Moya, I., Moreno, C., & Ramos, P. (2013). Developmental contexts and sense of coherence in adolescence: A systematic review. Journal of Health Psychology, 18(6), 800–812.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saloniemi, A., Romppainen, K., Strandh, M., & Virtanen, R. (2015). Training for the unemployed: Differential effects in white- and blue-collar workers with respect to mental well-being. Work, employment and society, 1–18. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mattias_Strandh/publication/262207621_Training_for_the_unemployed_differential_effects_in_white-_and_blue-collar_workers_with_respect_to_mental_well-being/links/0c9605370c7df68b80000000.pdf

  • Sauer, S., Walach, H., & Kohls, N. (2011a). Gray’s behavioural inhibition system as a mediator of mindfulness towards well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 506–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sauer, S., Walach, H., Offenbächer, M., Lynch, S., & Kohls, N. (2011b). Measuring mindfulness: A rasch analysis of the Freiburger Mindfulness Inventory. Religions, 2, 693–706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheutz, A. (2007). Kann der SOC bei erwachsenen Menschen durch die tranceinduzierende Methode der ‘Rituellen Körperhaltungen und Ekstatischen Trance®’ nach Felicitas Goodman günstig beeinflusst werden? www.inter-uni.net/static/download/publication/psychosozial/2007_Scheutz_college_SOC_Rituelle_Koerperhaltungen.pdf

  • Schmidt, S. (2004). Mindfulness and healing intention: Concepts, practices, and research evaluation. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicince, 10(1), 7–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, R. D., Germer, C. K., & Olendzki, A. (2008). Mindfulness: what is it? Where does it come from? In F. Didonna (Ed.), Clinical handbook of mindfulness. New York, NY: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorrells, N. (2007). Luther’s spiritual heirs face uncertain future. Christian Century, 16.

  • Tan, K. K., Chan, S. W.-C., Wan, W., & Vehviläinen-Jukunen, K. (2016). A salutogenic program to enhance sense of coherence and quality of life for older people in the community: A feasibility randomized controlled trial and process evaluation. Patient Education and Counseling, 99(1), 108–116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Colff, J. J. (2006). Work-related well-being of registered nurses in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, North-West University, Potchefstroom.

  • Vanderheiden, E., & Mayer, C.-H. (Eds.). (2014). Handbuch interkulturelle Öffnung. Grundlagen, best practice, tools. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vastamäki, J., Moser, K., & Paul, K. I. (2008). How stable is sense of coherence? Changes following an intervention for unemployed individuals. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 50(2), 161–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veronese, G., & Pepe, A. (2015). Sense of coherence as a determinant of psychological well-being across professional groups of aid workers exposed to war trauma. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18, 1–22. doi:10.1177/0886260515590125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walach, H., Buchheld, N., Buttenmuller, V., Kleinknecht, N., & Schmidt, S. (2006). Measuring mindfulness—the Freiburg mindfulness inventory (FMI). Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 1543–1555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, R., & Shapiro, S. L. (2006). The meeting of meditative disciplines and Western psychology. American Psychologist, 61(3), 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. (2012). The construction of researcher-researched relationships in school ethnography: Doing research, participating in the field and reflecting on ethical dilemmas. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 26(82), 763–779.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, R. D., & Lee, A. (2015). Internationalizing higher education. Critical collaboration across the curriculum. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wrangsjö, B., & Körlin, D. (1995). Guided imagery and music (GIM) as a psycho-therapeutic method in psychiatry. Journal of the Association for Music and Imagery, 4, 79–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ying, Y. (2008a). Contribution of self-compassion to competence and mental health in social work students. Journal of Social Work Education, 45(2), 309–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ying, Y. (2008b). The buffering effect of self-detachment against emotional exhaustion among social work students. Journal of Religion, Spirituality and Social Work, 27, 127–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ying, Y. & Han, M. (2007). The importance of self-compassion to social work students: Empirical evidence. Paper presented at the Second North American conference on spirituality and social work, Dominican University, River Forest, IL, 22 June 2007.

  • Ying, Y.-W., Lee, P. A., & Tsai, J. L. (2007). Attachment, sense of coherence, and mental health among Chinese-American college students: Variation by migration status. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 31, 541–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zapp, A. (2012). Managers and leaders: Are they different? Harvard Business Review, 70(2), 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwingmann, C., Klein, C., & Büssing, A. (2011). Measuring religiosity/spirituality: Theoretical differentiations and categorization of instruments. Religions, 2(3), 345–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank the Catholic Church in Germany for commissioning this research project and all the individuals who participated.

Funding

However, this research project has not been funded by any external party or institution.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, University of South Africa (UNISA), 3-114, AJH van der Walt Building, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria, 0003, Gauteng, South Africa

    Claude-Hélène Mayer, Rian Viviers & Aden-Paul Flotman

  2. Bistum Essen, Essen, Germany

    Detlef Schneider-Stengel

Authors
  1. Claude-Hélène Mayer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rian Viviers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aden-Paul Flotman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Detlef Schneider-Stengel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aden-Paul Flotman.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mayer, CH., Viviers, R., Flotman, AP. et al. Enhancing Sense of Coherence and Mindfulness in an Ecclesiastical, Intercultural Group Training Context. J Relig Health 55, 2023–2038 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0301-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0301-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation