There is an increased interest in the topic of spirituality in the fields of counselor education and professional counseling. Present research involves the constructs of spirituality, religiosity, spiritual uell-being, and spiritualwe/lness. This articlereports a study in which previously published dimensionsof spiritual weI/ness werereviewed and refined by a cross-cultural panelof 12 people representing 11 different spiritual traditions. The initial 7 dimensions of spiritual weI/ness were revised and expanded to 10 dimensions that met with agreement across the traditions represented by the panel and provide a starting point for further inquiry.
Affirming spirituality as relevant to the counseling process requires continued research regarding how people experience spirituality across cultures and whether there are common dimensions to different types of spirituality. This article reports the results of a study (funded in part by an ASERVIC research grant) that suggest 10 initial dimensions of spiritual wellness agreed on by leaders from 11 spiritual traditions. This study was the first part of a larger project to create a cross-traditional spiritual-wellness inventory.
The construct of spiritual well ness is a reflection of spiritual health (Ellison, 1983;Ingersoll, 1995). Because spirituality is difficult to define or describe fully (Ingersoll, 1994;Westgate, 1996), this construct offers a framework to discuss spirituality and conceptualize quantitative exploration.
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Regarding dimensions of spiritual wellness or spiritual well-being, Moberg and Brusek (1978) identified dimensions such as faith and belief in a divinity, meaning in life, peace of mind, faith in other people, and harmony with oneself. In a discussion of health and spirituality, Banks (1980) identified meaning, principles, a higher power, a sense of mystery, service to others, and faith. Moberg (1984)reported seven factor-analyzed dimensions of spiritual wellbeing that included Christian faith, self-satisfaction, personal piety, subjective spiritual well-being, optimism, religious cynicism, and elitism. In discussion of