JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW 2 2
Journal Article Review 2:
Spiritual Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs and Psychological Health
Summary
The journal article Spiritual Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs and Psychological Health
(Miner et al., 2013) the text explores an exciting and significant link between an individual's
perception of God and their psychological well-being. While the focus on the spiritual aspects of
a person's relationship with God is essential, the text highlights an often-overlooked component
of this relationship: the perception that God satisfies basic psychological needs such as
autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The study presents initial evidence that suggests that
this perception is not only prevalent but also has a positive effect on the psychological state of
individuals, particularly in terms of depression and stress levels.:
The study indicates that individuals who perceive God as fulfilling these fundamental needs
tend to have less stressful situations, which is a remarkable finding. The conclusion drawn from
this study is that this aspect of a person's connection with God should be viewed as not only of
theoretical and theological significance but also of practical psychological importance. The study
emphasizes the importance of understanding how individuals perceive their relationship with
God and how this perception can be integrated into psychological interventions to promote
mental health and well-being.
Reflection
The article published by Miner, Dowson, and Malone caught my attention due to the
interesting choice of title. The article discussed the spiritual satisfaction of basic psychological
needs and its relation to psychological health. It intrigued me, as many people unconsciously
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seek satisfaction in their lives, whether spiritual or not, to move past illness, traumas, successes,
losses, and so on. The study provides preliminary evidence that the perceived capacity of God to
meet basic psychological needs has a theoretical theological and practical psychological interest.
The article also highlighted an interesting consideration that addressed validating a measure of
spiritual need satisfaction using data from Christian believers and the psychological and
theological evidence concerning Christian believers' perceptions that God meets basic
psychological needs.:
Believers of the Christian faith often report that their relationship with God meets their
psychological and spiritual needs. The psychological benefits of religion include enhanced well-
being, coping better, and finding a greater purpose in life. Meanwhile, spiritual benefits include a
closer relationship with God, an increased sense of inner peace, and a connection to something
greater than oneself. To measure the satisfaction of spiritual needs, researchers have developed a
tool called the Spiritual Needs Inventory, which is a validated measure of spiritual satisfaction
among Christian believers. This tool assesses various dimensions of spiritual needs, including the
need for meaning and purpose, a sense of connection with God, and forgiveness and
reconciliation. Overall, the idea conveyed in the text is that Christian believers often report that
their relationship with God fulfills their psychological and spiritual needs. Researchers have
developed a tool to measure the satisfaction of spiritual needs among Christian believers.
However, the study they have graphed from believers will also contribute to non-believers or
those who may not have a solid spiritual connection but know a higher purpose regarding aiding
in psychological needs.
Conduction for further research on the journal topic, specifically delving deeper into the scripture
references mentioned in the text, would greatly benefit from learning more about the selected
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subject. One example of such a reference cited in the text is John 14:27, in which Jesus promises
his followers a unique peace that differs from mundane peace. The article also mentions "Clarke
(1831), who states that Jesus is the author, prince, promoter, and keeper of peace and that he
gives, procures, preserves, and establishes peace for his followers" (Miner et al., 2013). The
article highlights many biblical accounts of people receiving God's peace, and due to the
significant role of the word of God in promoting the ideas presented in this article, you feel that
it would be beneficial to take the time to cross-reference the works to scripture.
Application
An imaginary scenario where a client comes to me seeking counseling for depression and
grief related to the loss of a loved one. As a pastor or clinician, I would explore the client's
spiritual beliefs and relationship with God as part of the counseling process. Drawing upon the
article, I would inquire about the client's perception of God's capacity to meet their basic
psychological needs, such as their need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. I would aim
to understand how clients perceive their relationship with God and how it influences their
psychological state. Based on the study's findings, I would emphasize the importance of
integrating the client's perception of God into counseling to promote mental health and well-
being. I would explore how the client's spiritual beliefs and practices can help them cope with
their grief and depression. I would also utilize the Spiritual Needs Inventory, a validated measure
of spiritual satisfaction among Christian believers, to assess the client's satisfaction with their
spiritual needs. This tool would help me better understand the client's spiritual needs and how
they can be incorporated into counseling. The article highlights the importance of exploring a
client's spiritual beliefs and relationship with God in counseling. By integrating the client's
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References:
Miner, M., Dowson, M., & Malone, K. (2013). Spiritual Satisfaction of Basic Psychological
Needs and Psychological Health.:Journal of Psychology and Theology,:(4), pp. 298–31.
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-
journals/spiritual-satisfaction-basic-psychological-needs/docview/1503776723/se-2
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