Towards a Biopsychosocial–Spiritual Approach in Health Psychology: Exploring Theoretical Orientations and Future Directions

Abstract

The current status of the “biopsychosocial” model in health psychology is contested and arguably exists in a stage of infancy. Despite original goals, researchers have developed theoretical integrations across biopsychosocial domains only to a limited extent. In addition, the marginalization of “spirituality” in contemporary biopsychosocial health perspectives is questionable. This article addresses these issues by providing evidence that supports the inclusion of spirituality within current perspectives while at the same time discussing implications this inclusion bears on the concept of health. Overall, a biopsychosocial–spiritual or “holistic” perspective is advanced for use within health psychology, provided it can be approached from a multilevel integrative analysis. In the end, some clinical implications are discussed.

Keywords:

• spirituality
• health
• biopsychosocial model
• medicine
• holistic

Notes

1. Ghaemi (2009) observed that the biopsychosocial concept was actually coined by Roy Grinker in the 1950s. Other medical researchers such as Knowles (1977), Leigh and Reiser (1977), and Lipowski (1977) also supported and outlined a biopsychosocial position. Engel (1977), however, is still largely responsible for its popularization in medical science and health psychology.

2. Erich Fromm (1964) postulated five basic human needs: (a) relatedness, relationships with others, care, respect, knowledge; (b) transcendence, creativity, developing a loving and interesting life; (c) rootedness, a feeling of belonging; (d) sense of identity, to see ourselves as a unique person and part of a social group; and (e) a frame of orientation, the need to understand the world and our place in it.