New Report Addresses Spirituality and Teen Social Services - Are They Effective Together?
Researchers studied the practice of spiritual interventions in helping troubled adolescents across the USA in Adolescent Heart & Soul, the first-ever study of spiritual programming in youth-service agencies.
There are good reasons to be interested in the potential of spiritual interventions to help vulnerable or troubled adolescents said Melanie Wilson, MSW, Director of Research and Public Policy at the New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services (NEN) and the study's principal author. Studies conducted in the last several decades have demonstrated positive associations between religion and adolescent well-being. Religious participation has been linked to lower levels of depression, suicide, drug and alcohol use, and later onset of sexual activity.
Both secular and religious agencies highlighted in the report work with youth ages 14-22, most of them in residential treatment or transitional living programs. These agencies recognize spirituality as an important component of a holistic therapeutic approach with adolescents and deliver their programs in conformance with widely accepted standards of clinical care and the principles of youth development.
Though the programs themselves differed dramatically, some common themes did emerge:
-- Spiritual activities enhance clients' sense of awareness, wholeness,
well-being, and help them tap into sources of inner strength;
-- The programs are youth-driven;
-- Kids are put in touch with their surrounding community;
-- The programs emphasize tolerance, respect and are culturally
appropriate;
-- They are voluntary; and
-- They give kids the freedom to choose their spiritual path.
"Studies have also shown that 'spiritual interconnectedness' with friends is associated with delayed sexual activity, and that introspective activities such as guided visualization and yoga can reduce depression and improve attitude and behavior," says Wilson. In NEN's 2004 survey of 149 adolescents, with an overwhelming majority reportedly said they consider themselves 'spiritual' and that one could be spiritual without being religious.
This report underscores the potential and real benefits of programming that falls under the expansive umbrella of the importance of spirituality for youth.
Adolescent Heart & Soul: Achieving Spiritual Competence in Youth-Serving Agencies (2005) is third in a series of reports published by the New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services and can be downloaded for free at http://www.nenetwork.org/ .
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Melanie Wilson, MSW http://profnet.prnewswire.com
Source: New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services
CONTACT: Melanie Wilson, MSW, Study Author, +1-978-346-0597,
mwilson@nenetwork.org; Kathy Beal, Director, Communications,
+1-978-853-1810, kbeal@nenetwork.org
Web site: http://www.nenetwork.org/