Items of Interest January 3, 2011 Issue

The link between spirituality and happiness in children

Patty Machelor

“Raising spiritual kids” For the complete article visit go.azstarnet.com/spiritualkids Arizona Daily Star. December 5, 2010.

Spiritual children are happier children, according to a study by Mark Holder, associate professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. Holder found four things happier children possess: personal meaning, communal meaning, awe for beauty and nature, and a belief in some sort of transcendental power.

“I think a big part of happiness in general is the feeling of personal meaning,” he said. “Spiritual paths are ones that promote personal meaning.”

For some it might be attending a church, he said, while others find it in helping other people. “One can be highly spiritual and not be religious,” he said. “Spirituality is strongly connected to children’s happiness, but religion is not.”

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