Travis Research Institute
Office
Psychology Building 137
Fuller Theological Seminary
180 N. Oakland Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101-1714
aabernet@fuller.edu
Phone
626.584.5359
External Collaborators
Karl Van Harn, DMin, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Kimlin Ashing, PhD, City of Hope CCARE
Joseph Currier, PhD, University of South Alabama
Charlotte vanOyen-Witvliet, PhD, Hope College
Lindsey Root Luna, PhD, Hope College
Joshua Foster, PhD, University of South Alabama
Sarah Schnitker, PhD, Baylor University
Janet Carter, MDiv, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Marwan Tabbara, MD, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Katharine Putman, PsyD, Azusa Pacific University
Mission
The Spirituality and Health Lab is interested in two primary research questions: What dimensions of spirituality influence preventive health behaviors, disease, and psychological functioning? How and through what mechanisms does spirituality influence preventive health behaviors, disease, and psychological functioning? Three research teams are associated with this lab: Experiences of Spirituality and Health-Related Outcomes (ESHO); Spirituality, Cancer, and Health Disparities (SCAHD); and Spirituality, Culture, and Eating Disturbance (SCED).
PROJECT
Experience of Spirituality and Health-Related Outcomes (ESHO) Research Team
- Spiritual Experiences in Worship: Cultural, Theological, and Psychological Perspectives
- Music Worship Leader Project
- Spirituality and Transformation in a Community-Based Group in the Bahamas
- Forgiveness and Spiritual Distress in an Inpatient Psychiatric Setting
- Examining Spirituality and Mental Health Outcomes in Psychiatric Patients
- Clarifying How Views of the Afterlife, Hope, and Meaning Influence Suicidal Ideation in Psychiatric Inpatients
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Abernethy, A. D., Grannum, G. D., and Allen, D. F. (2019). Spirituality and transformation in a community-based group in the Bahamas. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 22(3), 227–243. https://doi-org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/13674676.2019.1579177
Currier, J. M., Foster, J. D., Witvliet, C. vanOyen, Abernethy, A. D., Root Luna, L. M., Schnitker, S. A., … Carter, J. (2019). Spiritual struggles and mental health outcomes in a spiritually integrated inpatient program. Journal of Affective Disorders, 249, 127–135. https://doi org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.02.012
Schnitker, S. A., Ro, D. B., Foster, J. D., Abernethy, A. D., Currier, J. M., vanOyen Witvliet, C., … Carter, J. (2019). Patient patients: Increased patience associated with decreased depressive symptoms in psychiatric treatment. The Journal of Positive Psychology. https://doi-org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1610482
Abernethy, A. D., and Kim, S.-H. (2018). The Spiritual Transcendence Index: An Item Response Theory Analysis. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 28(4), 240–256. https://doi-org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/10508619.2018.1507800
Abernethy, A. D., Currier, J. M., Witvliet, C. V. O., Schnitker, S. A., Putman, K. M., Root Luna, L. M., Foster, J. D., Spencer, A., Jones, H., VanHarn, K. J., and Carter, J. (2018). Understanding the roles of religious comfort and strain on depressive symptoms in an inpatient psychiatric setting. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rel0000233
King, L. H., Abernethy, A. D., Keiper, C., and Craycraft, A. (2018). Spirituality and eating
disorder risk factors in African American women. Eating And Weight Disorders: EWD. https://doi-org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0611-1
Abernethy, A. D., Allen, D. F., and Carroll, M. A. (2018). Adapting group therapy to address real world problems: Insights from groups offered in the Bahamas. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 68(1), 17–34. https://doi-org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/00207284.2017.1335582
Abernethy, A. D. (2017). Spirituality and health research: Incorporating a cultural lens.
Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 28, 209-230.
Christman, L. K., Abernethy, A. D., Gorsuch, R. L., and Brown, A.W. (2014) Intrinsic
Religiousness as a mediator between fatalism and cancer-specific fear: Clarifying the
role of fear in prostate cancer screening. Journal of Religion and Health, 53 (3), 760-772.
People
Faculty and Principal investigator
Alexis D. Abernethy
Associate Provost for Faculty Inclusion and Equity
Professor of Psychology
BS, HOWARD UNIVERSITY
MA, PHD, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY
Tina Armstrong
Director of Clinical Training and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology
BA IN THEATER, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES
EDM IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOLOGY, HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, CAMBRIDGE, MA
MA IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, PASADENA, CA
MA IN THEOLOGY, FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, PASADENA, CA
PHD IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, PASADENA, CA
Students
Heather Jones
Patrick Jacques
Nathan Flores
Irina Rivera
Breanna Abram
Mary Jacob Mathew
Rose So
Seanita Scott
Contact Us
t. 626.584.5544
email: tri@fuller.edu
Staff
Jim Cummings, MDiv, MA
Research Administrator
jamescummings2@fuller.edu
Office Hours
Monday–Friday
8 am–5 pm
Address
Room 326
180 N. Oakland Ave
Pasadena, CA 91182