Body and Soul
Have you ever found yourself saying a quick prayer before the start of a competition? Or gotten to the last few miles of a race and asked for a little divine assistance to make it to the finish line?
The question for today's post: How does spiritual well-being relate to athletic coping?
You see, there's been a movement in the field of psychology -- called "positive psychology" -- to look at the role the spiritual side of human existence plays in fostering mental health, physical well-being, and excellence in human activities.
This is not to suggest that the relationship between spirituality and sport is a new one. For many athletes, being in the "zone" or in a "flow" state is a spiritual experience. Researchers from Eastern Washington University wanted to take it one step further. In a study published this month in the Journal of Sport Behavior, they examined whether "spiritually well" athletes display better athletic coping skills then their "less spiritually well" peers.
To be clear, the researchers were not looking at religiosity. They were interested in spirituality and spiritual well being which they defined as:
The question for today's post: How does spiritual well-being relate to athletic coping?
You see, there's been a movement in the field of psychology -- called "positive psychology" -- to look at the role the spiritual side of human existence plays in fostering mental health, physical well-being, and excellence in human activities.
This is not to suggest that the relationship between spirituality and sport is a new one. For many athletes, being in the "zone" or in a "flow" state is a spiritual experience. Researchers from Eastern Washington University wanted to take it one step further. In a study published this month in the Journal of Sport Behavior, they examined whether "spiritually well" athletes display better athletic coping skills then their "less spiritually well" peers.
To be clear, the researchers were not looking at religiosity. They were interested in spirituality and spiritual well being which they defined as:
a strong sense of relatedness or connectedness to others -- existential well-being, as well as having a belief in and a relationship with a power higher than the self.
They looked at 142 athletes from a mid-sized NCAA Division I university in a wide variety of sports. They compared their scores on the Spiritual Well-Being Scale and the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory. What they found was that athletes who displayed the characteristics of spiritual well-being presented a "mentally tougher" profile for sport than athletes who were less "spiritually well."
The mechanism by which this happens is unclear. In fact, given the limitations of the study, one cannot even say for sure that spiritual well-being causes mental toughness (it may be that being a mentally tough athlete causes one to become more spiritually well, who knows?). But that didn't stop the researchers from making a suggestion.
Perhaps spiritual well-being acts as a "super" buffer against stress. Perhaps athletes who use spirituality have an enhanced their ability to persevere through adversity.
Since this research is still at it's early stages, it leaves us with more questions than answers.
So I'm turning it over to you, the readers of this blog. What do you think? Has your spirituality helped you become a better athlete? If so, in what ways?
I can't wait to read your answers.
Reference: Ridnour, H. & Hammermeister, J. (2008). Spiritual well-being and its influence on athletic coping profiles. Journal of Sport Behavior,31, 81-92.
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Organized religion makes me uncomfortable, yet I do feel a connection to a higher power when I receive very strong intuitive feelings. That said, I did have a very positive spiritual experience resulting from an acupuncture treatment three weeks ago. I went in for tight hamstrings. I came out feeling better after the loss of my mother in December. I can remember my dreams for the first time in three months. I feel connected with myself again – and therefore, better equipped to cope with my first half IM in 8 days. You can read more on my blog. Thanks :-)
Anonymous says
I have an on again, off again relationship with God...I have the same type of relationship with running. When I can run & be alone within myself that is when I talk to "God". I do not pray but I talk to something. I find myself jogging away and talking out loud. Running that way both brings me closer to my higher power as well as clears the jogging path.
REAL ESTATE WITH RUBEN says
I'm not into competitive sports; however work out on a regular basis. I know that when I do have a strong bond with my higher power (something that I struggle with daily) my endurance is stronger, my coping skills are sharper and my overall perspective on life is much more pleasant. I believe there is a connection between you mental and physical state.