A Sociocultural Drivers of Spirituality in Indian Saints: A Principal Component Analysis Sociocultural drivers of Indian Saints

Article Sidebar

PDF
Published: Jun 18, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58999/cijmr.v1i01.16
Keywords:
Sociocultural factors, Spirituality, PCA, Indian Saints
Dimensions Badge

Main Article Content

Badrinarayan Mishra
R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Human health is multidomain. However, the physical component has dominated health research. Spiritual health, the component traditionally considered the pivot for health and wellness has taken a back seat. Exploring its’ different determinants in the traditional preachers will enhance our understanding of them and will be a guide for their use in the common man’s life.


Aim: To find out important sociocultural factors/drivers of the spiritual health of Indian Saints.


Objectives: To identify the important social and cultural determinants of spirituality in the study group by factor extraction through Principal Component Analysis (PCA).


Methodology: 958 connecting Indian Saints who congregated at Kumbh Mela in the holy city of Ujjain in 2016 were randomly selected in equal proportion from different sects(clans). Their sociocultural background and spiritual score were evaluated by a sociocultural questionnaire and SAI (Spiritual Assessment Inventory). The contribution of sociocultural factors to spiritual score was analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and linear regression modeling. Statistical significance was established at p < 0.05.


Results: 20 sociocultural factors were evaluated for component loading (factor extraction) and their impact on the spiritual score. The KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure) score of Sampling Adequacy, Bartlett's test of sphericity and Communalities extraction were 0.57, sig. of 0.00 and ≥ 0.4 respectively thereby supporting; factor analysis. On PCA 6 had an eigenvalue > 1. All of these 6 principal components were found maintainable on The Monte Carlo PCA for Parallel Analysis and they together explained 66.20% of the cumulative variance. Their respective taxonomies were emancipation (PC 1), family heritage (PC 2), stimuli (PC 3), faith (PC 4), education (PC 5), and self-hegemony (PC 6). On regression analysis, the four important influencers of spirituality were; participants’ origin from a joint family (p – 0.00), their daily routine for spiritual enhancement (p-0.01), respect for other religions (p-0.00), and self-motivation (p-0.01).


Conclusion: Emancipation (freedom from family bondage), the presence of religious family background, a fixed daily routine, belief in all religions, an unremitting drive for spiritual education, and self-hegemony were dominant components that determined spirituality in Indian Saints. Translating these drivers for the benefit of commoners may enrich their overall health and wellness.

Article Details

How to Cite
Mishra, B. (2022). A Sociocultural Drivers of Spirituality in Indian Saints: A Principal Component Analysis: Sociocultural drivers of Indian Saints. Central India Journal of Medical Research, 1(01). https://doi.org/10.58999/cijmr.v1i01.16
Issue
Vol. 1 No. 01 (2022): Central India Journal of Medical Research
Section
Original Research Articles

References

Ref: Hawks SR, Smith T, Thomas HG, Christley HS, Meinzer N, Pyne A. The forgotten dimensions in health education research. Health Educ Res. 2008 Apr;23(2):319-24. DOI: 10.1093/her/cym035. Epub 2007 Sep 7. PMID: 17827470.

Theocracy Countries 2021; © 2021 World Population Review.

Countries with A Theocratic Government Today. WorldAtlas © 2021 worldatlas.com.

Larson JS. The World Health Organization’s definition of health: social versus spiritual health. Soc Indicators Res. 1996; 38:181–92. DOI: 10.1007/BF00300458.

WHOQOL-SRPB Field instrument test. WHO; 2002.

http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/622.pdf. Accessed August 6th, 2012

Adi Shankara. (2015). Sengaku Mayeda, Encyclopaedia Britannica.inc. Jan 18, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shankara.

Akhada. For general awareness about Who’s who of the Akhadas, their working, and contribution. http://www.firstfoundation.in/WW-Rel/Hindu/akhada.htm.

Mishra B, Baghel AS, Paliwal D, Chauhan DS. Study of Spiritual Health Determinants in Indian Saints (Sadhus) at Ujjain Kumbh Mela (Simhast) 2016. J Relig Health. 2020 Jun;59(3):1233-1257. DOI: 10.1007/s10943-019-00764-3. PMID: 30684215.

Lochtefeld, J. G. (2004). The construction of the Kumbha Mela. South Asian Popular Culture,2(2), 103–126.

Dalal, R. (2011). The religions of India: A concise guide to nine major faiths. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-341517-6.

Diana L. Eck (2012). India: A Sacred Geography. Harmony Books. pp. 153–155. ISBN 978-0-385-53190-0.

Mattison D. The forgotten spirit: integration of spirituality in health care. Nephrol News Issues. 2006 Feb;20(2):30-2. PMID: 16499171.

Koenig HG, King DE, Carson VB. Handbook of Religion and Health. 2nd edition. New York, NY, USA: Oxford University Press; 2012. A history of religion, medicine, and healthcare; pp. 15–34.

Fry LW. Introduction to the leadership quarterly special issue: Toward a paradigm of spiritual leadership. Leadersh Q. 2005; 16:619–622. DOI: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2005.07.001.

Coyle J. Spirituality and health: Towards a framework for exploring the relationship between spirituality and health. J. Adv. Nurs. 2002; 37:589–597. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002. 02133.x

Nelson-Becker H., Ai A.L., Hopp F.P., McCormick T.R., Schlyeter J.O., Camp J.K. Spirituality and Religion in End-of-life Care Ethics: The Challenge of Interfaith and Cross-Generational Matters. J. Soc. Work. 2015; 45:104–119. DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bct110.

Aging without agency: theorizing the fourth age. Gilleard C, Higgs P. Aging Ment Health. 2010 Mar; 14(2):121-8.

Jenkins, Janis, the meaning of expressed emotion: theoretical issues raised by cross-cultural research. Am] Psychiatry 149:1, January 1992, https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.149.1.9

Sherkat, D. E., & Ellison, C. G. (1999). Recent developments and current controversies in the sociology of religion. Annual Review of Sociology, 25, 363–394. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.25.1.363

Mahoney, J.L.; Vandell, D.L.; Simpkins, S.; Zarrett, N. Adolescent out-of-school activities. In Handbook of Adolescent Psychology;Steinberg, L., Lerner, R.M., Eds.; John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2009.

Spirituality, religion, and health: over the last 15 years of field research (1999-2013). Lucchetti G, Lucchetti AL. Int J Psychiatry Med. 2014; 48(3):199-215. The role of spirituality in health care. Puchalski CM. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2001 Oct; 14(4):352-7.

Cultural competence and evidence-based practice in mental health: epistemic communities and the politics of pluralism. Kirmayer LJ. Soc Sci Med. 2012 Jul; 75(2):249-56

Koenig H.G. Religion, Spirituality, and Health: A Review and Update. Adv. Mind Body Med. 2015; 29:19–26.

Mokuau N, Hishinuma E, Nishimura S. Validating a measure of religiousness/spirituality for Native Hawaiians. Pac Health Dialog. 2001 Sep;8(2):407-16. PMID: 12180523.

Concept Analysis of Spirituality: An Evolutionary Approach. Weathers E, McCarthy G, Coffey A, Nurs Forum. 2016 Apr; 51(2):79-96.

Levin J. How faith heals: a theoretical model. Explore (NY). 2009 Mar-Apr;5(2):77-96. DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2008.12.003. PMID: 19272579.

Levin J, Steele L. The transcendent experience: conceptual, theoretical, and epidemiologic perspectives. Explore (NY). 2005 Mar;1(2):89-101. DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2004.12.002. PMID: 16781509

Coleman P.G. Belief and Ageing: Spiritual Pathways in Later Life. Bristol Policy Press; Bristol, UK: 2011.

Day A. Believing in Belonging: Belief and Social Identity in the Modern World. Oxford University Press; Oxford, UK: 2011.

Culatto A, Summerton CB. Spirituality and Health Education: A National Survey of Academic Leaders UK. J Relig Health. 2015 Dec;54(6):2269-75. DOI: 10.1007/s10943-014-9974-4. PMID: 25424304.

Mounaghi HK, Lakeh MA, Makarem A, Esmaieli H, Ebrahimi M, Ashouri A. The relationship between spiritual intelligence/quotient (sq) and teaching competency in medical faculty members. Iran J Med Educ. 2012 12:554–63.

Ellison CW. Spiritual well-being: conceptualization and measurement. [J] Journal of Psychology & Theology. 1983;11(4):330–340. DOI: 10.1177/009164718301100406.

Bredle JM, Salsman JM, Debb SM, et al. Spiritual well-being as a component of health-related quality of life: the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy—spiritual well-being scale (FACIT-Sp)[J] Religions. 2011;2(1):77–94. DOI: 10.3390/rel2010077.