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Travis Research Institute

Group 1

Spirituality and Health

Alexis D. Abernethy, PhD

Office

Chief Academic Officer
Fuller Theological Seminary
180 N. Oakland Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101-1714

Email

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

  • African American Women Spirituality and Health 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

PROJECT

Spirituality, Cancer, and Health Disparities (SCAHD) Team

  • Reducing the Burden of Breast Cancer among African-American and Latina Survivors
  • Cultural Factors in Cancer Screening

PROJECT

Spirituality, Culture, and Eating Disturbance (SCED) Team

  • Exploring the Role of Spirituality in the Treatment of Eating Disorders
  • Spirituality and Asceticism in the Treatment of Eating Disorders

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Experiences of Spirituality and Health-Related Outcomes (ESHO) Team

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

Abernethy, A. (Ed.). (2023).Spiritual care in psychological suffering: How a research collaboration informs integrative practice. Rowman & Littlefield.

Hinkel, H. M., Isaak, S. L., Abernethy, A. D., Witvliet, C. V. O., Schnitker, S. A., Root Luna, L.M., & Currier, J. M. (2021). Religiousness, meaning, and quality of life: Test of a   mediational model among adults seeking a spiritually integrated inpatient program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77(4), 1054–1067. https://doi.org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/jclp.23096

Abernethy, A. D., Currier, J. M., Schnitker, S. A., Witvliet, C. V. O., Root Luna, L M., Foster, J.D., VanHarn, K., & Carter, J. (2021). Inpatient perspectives on the appropriateness of spiritually integrated interventions in a Christian-affiliated program. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. 52(3), 272-278. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000367

Schnitker, S. A., Ro, D., Foster, J. D., Abernethy, A. D., Currier, J. M., Witvliet, C. V. O., Root      Luna, L. M., Putnam, K., VanHarn, K., & Carter, J. (2020). Patient patients: Increased patience associated with decreased depressive symptoms in psychiatric treatment.   The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15, 300-313. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1610482

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 Disorders249, 127–135. https://doi.org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.02.012

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., & 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

 

The Family - Bahamas Group Project

Abernethy, A. D., Grannum, G. D., & Allen, D. F. (2019). Spirituality and transformation in a community-based group in the Bahamas. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 22(3), 227–243. https://doi.org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/13674676.2019.1579177

Abernethy, A. D., Allen, D. F., & Carroll, M. A. (2017) Adapting group therapy to address real world problems: Insights from groups offered in the Bahamas. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy. 1-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207284.2017.1335582

 

Black Women’s Spirituality Group

Abernethy, A. D. (2022). Spirituality and struggle as sources of strength and power for African American women: Implications for group therapy leadership. In Y. I. Kane, S. M. Masselink,  & A. C. Weiss(eds)., Women, intersectionality and power in group psychotherapy leadership. (pp.19-32) Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

 

Spirituality, Cancer, and Health Disparities (SCAHD) Team

Flores, N. J., Mathew, M. J., Fortson, L. S., Abernethy, A. D., & Ashing, K. T. (2021). The influence of culture, social, and religious support on well-being in breast cancer    Survivorship. Cureus, 13(3), e14158.    https://doi.org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.7759/cureus.14158

 

Spirituality, Culture, and Eating Disturbance (SCED) Team

King, L. H., Abernethy, A. D., Keiper, C., & Craycraft, A. (2018). Spirituality and eating disorder risk factors in African American women. Eating And Weight Disorders: EWD. https://doiorg.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0611-1

 

General

Porter, S. L., Wang, D. C., Abernethy, A., Strout, S., Dillard, W., Yong, A., & van Vlastuin, W.   (2021). Ecumenical and traditioned measurement: Measuring Christian maturation across distinct traditions of Christian spirituality. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. https://doi.org/10.1177/19397909211041032

Abernethy, A. D. (2021). Spiritual formation: Our spiritual journey to clinical practice. In D. J. Downs, T. Armstrong, and A Yong, (eds)., Vocation, formation, and theological education: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (pp. 163-184). Claremont Press.

Abernethy, A. D. (2020). Spirituality as a resource in group psychotherapy. In M. D. Ribeiro (ed.), Examining social identities and diversity issues in group therapy: Knocking at the boundaries (pp. 149-160). Routledge Press.

Abernethy, A. D., & Kim, S.-H. (2018). The Spiritual Transcendence Index: An Item Response Theory Analysis. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion28(4), 240–256. https://doi.org.fuller.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/10508619.2018.1507800

People

Faculty and Principal investigator

Alexis Abernethy

Alexis D. Abernethy

Professor of Psychology

BS, HOWARD UNIVERSITY
MA, PHD, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY
TEAMS
EXPERIENCE OF SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH-RELATED OUTCOMES (ESHO) RESEARCH TEAM
SPIRITUALITY, CANCER, AND HEALTH DISPARITIES (SCAHD) TEAM
SPIRITUALITY, CULTURE, AND EATING DISTURBANCE (SCED) TEAM

Students

Dinisha Mingo

Dinisha Mingo, M.S., MA., Research Fellow

Dinisha is a third-year PhD student interested in researching mental health in the faith-based community, particularly identifying practices of faith that may serve as therapeutic interventions in the Black church. Dinisha plans to use her degree to re-invest in her business as well as teach, supervise, and be a public speaker.

Shannon

Shannon Constable, Research Fellow

Shannon is a second-year PhD student currently researching spiritual wellness. Shannon aspires to teach and supervise graduate psychology students, practice in a clinical setting, and lead research initiatives in holistic psychology (specifically concerning integrative clinical care; body, mind, & spirit).

JUlianna

Juliana D’Aoust, M.A.

Juliana is a fourth-year PsyD student interested in researching the relationships between disordered eating, spirituality, and health disparities. Juliana has goals to specialize in health psychology but also enjoys working psychodynamically with young adult populations in private practice settings.

Jolie

Jolie Slater, M.A.

Jolie is a third-year PsyD student researching health outcomes among college students experiencing food insecurity and managing food allergies. Jolie hopes to work with college students and young adults managing food allergies and mental health concerns from a holistic person centered approach. She also enjoys health psychology and working on interdisciplinary teams.

Sophie

Sophie Barrett, M.A.

Sophie is a third-year PsyD student researching traumatic grief, its impact on the body, and how spirituality and community can serve as protective factors. In the future, she hopes to work therapeutically with women, LGBTQ+, and older adults with mood disorders and trauma.

Rodell

Rodell Benitoe

Rodelle Benitoe is a first-year PsyD student whose research interests center on the intersection of black health and spirituality, with a focus on body image and identity.

Former Students

Nathan Flores, PhD

Irina Rivera, PhD

Breanna Abram, PhD

Mary Jacob Mathew, PhD

Patrick Jacques, PhD

Rose So, PhD

Heather Jones, PsyD

 

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Contact Us
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