Group 1

Spirituality and Health

Alexis D. Abernethy, PhD

Office

Fuller Theological Seminary
180 N Oakland Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101

Email

[email protected]

Phone

626.584.5359

 

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 Abernethy

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

Travis Research Institute logo
Contact Us

phone: 626.584.5544

email: [email protected]

Staff

Nicole DeCamp
Research and Grant Administrator
[email protected]

Address

180 N Oakland Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101