Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

William Buhrow, PsyD

Second Advisor

Aundrea Paxton, PsyD

Third Advisor

Hannah Acquaye, PhD

Abstract

Loneliness is multi-faceted, but few studies have tried to define or explore the experience of spiritual loneliness, and fewer still have explored loneliness’s relation to spiritual well-being (Chornobai, 2020). To date, no known studies have explored in what way a dyadic experience focused on spiritual exercises might impact spiritual loneliness and spiritual well-being in young adults. This study examined in what way spending time with a person in a spiritual context (i.e., practicing Lectio Divina as a dyad), impacts a person’s experience of spiritual loneliness, spiritual well-being, and friendship. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: Lectio Divina Dyad, Lectio Divina Solo, or Mindfulness Dyad and engaged in a prescribed practice for 6 weeks. Standardized measures assessing spiritual loneliness, spiritual well-being, and friendship were administered before and after the intervention. Results demonstrated the Lectio Divina Dyad experienced a significant increase in their “felt” spiritual well-being (transcendental-feel). The discovered benefit of a dyadic spiritually-focused practice may prove useful for individuals to promote feelings of spiritual well-being.

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