Getting the balance: assessing spirituality and well‐being among children and youth

Abstract

This paper provides a critique of available quantitative measures of spirituality and well‐being that have been used with children and youth. These measures range in scope from single‐item to complex multiple‐item instruments. The four domain model of spiritual health and well‐being has been used to classify each item in the spirituality measures to show how they address relationships with self (Personal Spiritual Well‐being [SWB]), with others (Communal SWB), with the environment (Environmental SWB) and/or with a Transcendent Other (Transcendental SWB). Each instrument has been analysed to show how well it provides a balanced assessment of spiritual well‐being, with the purpose of informing pastoral care.

Keywords:

• four domain model of spiritual health and well‐being
• SHALOM
• assessing spiritual well‐being
• Feeling Good
• Living Life