Use of the Spiritual Development Framework in Conducting Spirituality and Health Research with Adolescents

• DOI: 10.1007/s10943-018-00752-z
• Publication Date: 2019-01-01T08:14:36Z
• Authors: Dora Clayton-Jones; Kristin A. Haglund; Jame Schaefer; Harold G. Koenig; Safiya George Dal...
• Keywords: Phenomenon; Descriptive research

Spirituality is considered a universal phenomenon, but research addressing the spiritual needs of adolescents in the context of health and illness is limited. The aim of this article is to provide a description of how the spiritual development framework (SDF) was used in conducting research with adolescents. An exemplar of a qualitative descriptive study is provided to demonstrate applicability of the SDF. The SDF was used as a guiding theoretical framework in conducting research with adolescents living with sickle cell disease. The SDF is culturally applicable and methodologically appropriate. Additional research applying the SDF is warranted.