Spiritual transformation after near-death experiences.

People who have a near-death experience during a brush with death report greater spiritual growth afterward than those who come close to death without such an experience. Among 230 self-selected participants, spiritual growth was stronger the deeper the near-death experience. Spiritual decline was similar in both groups and unrelated to the depth of the experience. Near-death experiences are therefore linked to increased posttraumatic spiritual growth but do not affect posttraumatic spiritual decline. The findings suggest that spiritual transformation matters for well-being and that therapies should include ways to foster spiritual growth.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Traumatic events may lead to dramatic changes in spirituality. The objective of this study was to explore whether posttraumatic spiritual transformation results not just from the traumatic event, but from spiritual experience during the crisis. The hypothesis tested was that survivors of a brush with death who had spiritual “near-death experiences” have greater spiritual growth and lesser spiritual decline than survivors without near-death experiences. Two hundred thirty self-selected participants who had come close to death completed questionnaires that included the NDE Scale, the Spiritual Transformation Scale, and relevant demographic questions. Near-death experiencers reported greater spiritual growth than comparison survivors, and spiritual growth was correlated with depth of near-death experience. Spiritual decline was comparable in the two groups, and was not associated with depth of near-death experience. Near-death experiences thus are associated with greater posttraumatic spiritual growth but do not influence posttraumatic spiritual decline. The relevance of spiritual transformation to individuals’ lives and well-being suggest that further research is warranted, and that strategies to promote spiritual growth be incorporated into therapeutic practice.