The Benefits of Gratitude in Spiritual Formation: Collaborative of Gratefulness in a Christian Church Community

This field experiment examined the effects of a gratefulness intervention in the context of a Christian church congregation. Two Evangelical congregations with comparable demographic and socio-economic characteristics were enrolled and assigned to the experimental and comparison conditions. In an effort to integrate psychological intervention techniques with established spiritual formation practices, the intervention was developed collaboratively with church leaders. In addition to examining the well-known benefits of gratefulness – strengthening of interpersonal relationships, increased life satisfaction, psychological well-being (PWB), and enhanced spiritual well-being (SWB), this research considered whether the practice of gratitude mobilized participants to engage others inside and outside the congregation. It also considered whether the collaborative approach in conducting the study impacted the perception of psychology among participating clergy and church members. Outcome data were analyzed using mixed-method ANOVAS. Significant within-subject effects were found for PWB, SWB, and life satisfaction. However, since the comparison group showed increases for SWB and life satisfaction in the absence of a gratitude intervention, only improvements in PWB are well supported. No significant changes occurred on measures of interpersonal engagement. As a result of this collaborative study participants rated psychologists and interdisciplinary collaboration more favorably than they had in the beginning. This research represents the first quasi-experiment to study a gratitude intervention within a faith congregation. In spite of methodological limitations, it highlights the potential benefit of gratitude interventions designed in collaboration with clergy

A Gratitude Intervention in a Christian Church Community

This field experiment examined the effects of a gratefulness intervention in the context of a Christian church congregation. Two Christian congregations with comparable demographic and socio-economic characteristics were enrolled and assigned to the experimental and comparison conditions. The gratitude intervention was developed collaboratively with church leaders. Though within-subject effects were found for psychological well-being, spiritual well-being, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, daily spiritual experiences, and favorable views of psychology and interdisciplinary collaboration, the comparison group showed similar increases to the intervention group. Thus, the effects of the gratitude intervention were supported within but not across groups. No significant changes occurred on measures of interpersonal engagement. This research represents the first quasi-experiment to study a gratitude intervention within a faith congregation. In spite of methodological limitations, it highlights the potential benefit of gratitude interventions designed in collaboration with clergy

Spiritual Formation Training in the George Fox University Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

Spiritual formation training in the George Fox University Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology is described. An evangelical Quaker institution, the ethos of George Fox University is intended to foster experiential spiritual development and reflective self-awareness. In a 2008 curriculum revision the faculty attempted to strengthen the experiential dimensions of spiritual formation training even at the risk of reducing training in more academic dimensions of theology and integration. A 2013 program evaluation solicited student and alumni perspectives on the effectiveness of the spiritual formation training they received. Results of the program evaluation suggest areas for future development