Character strengths as mediators in a mindfulness based intervention for recovery from addictive behaviour: a study in psychology of religion and positive psychology
Sahaya G. Selvam, PhD (University of London)
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Abstract:
There is an increasing interest in studying the association between spirituality and recovery from addiction. A few studies have already explored the mediators of the association, but rarely have they attempted to elucidate the association within a viable theoretical framework. The present study attempted to address this need. Beginning with the conceptualization of religion and spirituality, the study considered the possibility of a construct called ‘religious spirituality’. Working within an epistemology of hermeneutical realism, this project in psychology of religion (PR) proposed positive psychology (PP) as a multidimensional theory, and opted for a mixed method approach integrating quantitative and qualitative data.
The literature review showed several parallels between the dimensions of spirituality as explored within PR and the list of character strengths as developed by PP. Therefore, the study set out to explore the association between spirituality and recovery within the theoretical framework of character strengths, otherwise also known as ‘Values in Action’ (VIA; Peterson & Seligman, 2004). A qualitative systematic literature review of the spirituality-addiction literature yielded a list of salient character strengths. A holistic conceptual framework was developed to understand addiction and recovery in the context of PP, predicting that spirituality based interventions, such as mindfulness, enhance the salient character strengths and thus facilitate recovery from addiction. The study went on to examine the efficacy of a Christian version of mindfulness (Jesus Prayer, Labyrinth walking and journaling) in enhancing character strengths and reducing addictive behaviour.
The empirical study was carried out in two phases in Nairobi, Kenya. The first part was a survey (N=504) to examine the correlation between three addictive behaviours (harmful use of alcohol, sex addiction and compulsive use of internet) and character strengths. The second part was an intervention study that was designed as a controlled trial (N=71). The regression tests on the data from the survey supported the conceptual framework to some extent. The lack of prudence, integrity, spirituality and forgiveness could predict addictive behaviours. Due to small sample size, the quantitative data from the intervention study could not establish that the effect of mindfulness was significantly different from the life skills or control conditions, nor was its effect on character strengths quantitatively verifiable. Through the case studies, it was possible to explore the impact of Christian mindfulness on the participants in the context of addiction recovery. An interesting pattern emerged suggesting a three dimensional religious spirituality in their relationship to the self, others and God. Perspective, humility, self-control, social intelligence, responsibility, forgiveness and spirituality were identified as being active in the practice of Christian mindfulness. Limitations of the VIA-Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) were observed, particularly for a cross-cultural situation. In general, the results suggest that while character strengths are conceptually attractive to address the mediators in a mindfulness based intervention for recovery from addictive behaviour, the VIA-IS itself may not actually present the best measurement instrument in this domain. The findings add support to the emerging understanding that addiction is a multidimensional phenomenon. Character strengths offer a promising framework for further exploring religious spirituality.