Spirituality and Health
Office
Fuller Theological Seminary
180 N Oakland Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
External Collaborators
Karl Van Harn, DMin, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Kimlin Ashing, PhD, City of Hope CCARE
Joseph Currier, PhD, University of South Alabama
Charlotte vanOyen-Witvliet, PhD, Hope College
Lindsey Root Luna, PhD, Hope College
Joshua Foster, PhD, University of South Alabama
Sarah Schnitker, PhD, Baylor University
Janet Carter, MDiv, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Marwan Tabbara, MD, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Katharine Putman, PsyD, Azusa Pacific University
MISSION
The Spirituality and Health Lab is interested in two primary research questions: What dimensions of spirituality influence preventive health behaviors, disease, and psychological functioning? How and through what mechanisms does spirituality influence preventive health behaviors, disease, and psychological functioning? Three research teams have been associated with this lab: Experiences of Spirituality and Health-Related Outcomes (ESHO); Spirituality, Cancer, and Health Disparities (SCAHD); and Spirituality, Culture, and Eating Disturbance (SCED). Current students are focused on work related to the ESHO Team.
PROJECT
Experience of Spirituality and Health-Related Outcomes (ESHO) Research Team
- Spirituality and Transformation in a Community-Based Group in the Bahamas
- Forgiveness and Spiritual Distress in an Inpatient Psychiatric Setting
- Examining Spirituality and Mental Health Outcomes in Psychiatric Patients
- Clarifying How Views of the Afterlife, Hope, and Meaning Influence Suicidal Ideation in Psychiatric Inpatients
- African American Women Spirituality and Health - Exploring Black Maternal Health
PAST PROJECTS
- Spiritual Experiences in Worship: Cultural, Theological, and Psychological Perspectives
- Music Worship Leader Project
PROJECT
Spirituality, Cancer, and Health Disparities (SCAHD) Team
 PAST PROJECTS
- Reducing the Burden of Breast Cancer among African-American and Latina Survivors
- Cultural Factors in Cancer Screening
PROJECT
Spirituality, Culture, and Eating Disturbance (SCED) Team
 PAST PROJECTS
- Exploring the Role of Spirituality in the Treatment of Eating Disorders
- Spirituality and Asceticism in the Treatment of Eating Disorders
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Experiences of Spirituality and Health-Related Outcomes (ESHO) Team
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Abernethy, A. (Ed.). (2023). Spiritual care in psychological suffering: How a research collaboration informs integrative practice. Rowman & Littlefield.
Abernethy, A. D., van Oyen Witvliet, C., Luna, L. M. R., Foster, J. D., Putman, K. M., Currier, J. M., Schnitker, S. A., Van Harn, K., & Carter, J. (2022). Perceptions of divine forgiveness, religious comfort, and depression in psychiatric inpatients: A mixed methods study. Journal of Religion and Health. https://doi-org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s10943-022-01511-x
Schnitker, S. A., Currier, J. M., Abernethy, A. D., Witvliet, C. vanOyen, Foster, J. D., Root Luna, L. M., VanHarn, K., & Carter, J. (2021). Gratitude and patience moderate meaning struggles and suicidal risk in a cross-sectional study of inpatients at a Christian psychiatric hospital. Journal of Personality. https://doi-org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/jopy.12644
The Family - Bahamas Group Project
Abernethy, A. D., Grannum, G. D., & Allen, D. F. (2019). Spirituality and transformation in a community-based group in the Bahamas. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 22(3), 227–243. https://doi.org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/13674676.2019.1579177
Abernethy, A. D., Allen, D. F., & Carroll, M. A. (2017) Adapting group therapy to address real world problems: Insights from groups offered in the Bahamas. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. 1-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207284.2017.1335582
Black Women’s Spirituality Group
Abernethy, A. D. (2022). Spirituality and struggle as sources of strength and power for African American women: Implications for group therapy leadership. In Y. I. Kane, S. M. Masselink, & A. C. Weiss(eds)., Women, intersectionality and power in group psychotherapy leadership. (pp.19-32) Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Spirituality, Cancer, and Health Disparities (SCAHD) Team
Flores, N. J., Mathew, M. J., Fortson, L. S., Abernethy, A. D., & Ashing, K. T. (2021). The influence of culture, social, and religious support on well-being in breast cancer  Survivorship. Cureus, 13(3), e14158. https://doi.org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.7759/cureus.14158
Spirituality, Culture, and Eating Disturbance (SCED) Team
King, L. H., Abernethy, A. D., Keiper, C., & Craycraft, A. (2018). Spirituality and eating disorder risk factors in African American women. Eating And Weight Disorders: EWD. https://doiorg.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0611-1
General
Abernethy, A. D., & Kim, S.-H. (2018). The Spiritual Transcendence Index: An Item Response Theory Analysis. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 28(4), 240–256. https://doi.org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/10508619.2018.1507800
PEOPLE
Faculty
Alexis D. Abernethy
Professor of Psychology
BS, HOWARD UNIVERSITY
MA, PHD, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY
TEAMS
EXPERIENCE OF SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH-RELATED OUTCOMES (ESHO) RESEARCH TEAM
SPIRITUALITY, CANCER, AND HEALTH DISPARITIES (SCAHD) TEAM
SPIRITUALITY, CULTURE, AND EATING DISTURBANCE (SCED) TEAM
Students
Juliana D'Aoust, PsyD, 2026
Jolie Slater, PsyD, 2026
Sophie Barrett, PsyD, 2026
Dinisha Gray-Mingo, PhD, 2027
Rodelle Benitoe, PsyD, 2028
Shannon Constable, PhD, 2028
Contact Us
phone: 626.584.5544
email:Â [email protected]
Staff
Nicole DeCamp
Research and Grant Administrator
[email protected]
Address
180 N Oakland Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101