Spiritual Needs and Quality of Life in Estonia

Authors: Teichmann, Mare; Murdvee, Mart; Saks, Kai

Source: Social Indicators Research, Volume 76, Number 1, March 2006 , pp. 147-163(17)

Publisher: Springer

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $47.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

This paper reports on three field studies using the WHOQOL-100 and WHOQOL-BREF instruments that utilized three different samples (N = 1,801) to get a better understanding of how important the person's spiritual needs are for quality of life. The most striking negative difference between the Estonian and World Health Organization samples was in the WHOQOL-100 spirituality domain. We found that the quality of life index significantly correlated with the WHOQOL-100 spirituality score. Also, spirituality was related to all quality of life domains (physical health, psychological well-being, level of independence, social relationships and environment). Regarding psychological well-being, spirituality correlated with self-esteem, positive feelings, and thinking, learning, memory, and concentration, on the other. Our findings suggest that spirituality occupies an important place in the person's perception of their quality of life in a changing socio–economic environment as the one in Estonia.

Keywords: meaningfulness of life; quality of life; spirituality

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-005-4860-9

Affiliations: 1: Email: mare@pekonsult.ee

Publication date: 2006-03-01