Spiritualiteit, religiositeit en het begraven of cremeren van de overleden dierbare en het verband met voortgezette banden

Abstract

Little is known about continuing bonds (the presence of an ongoing inner relationship with the deceased) in relationship with spirituality, religion and burial or cremation of the deceased. The objective of the study was to examine whether spirituality, religion and burial or cremation of the deceased are of any influence on creating a continuing bond. A questionnaire was used which was partly designed by the authors and partly composed with other questionnaires. The questionnaires were filled in at faculties, parks, sports canteens, libraries and at a hospital by 256 respondents (63.7% women, mean age 26.7, SD 11.3, 18 to 62 years). In this study results show that spirituality is a predictor of creating a continuing bond. On first sight, religion is not, but when this group is defined in a low, middle and high group, the middle group was the strongest predictor of continuing bonds. Whether the deceased is buried or cremated is no predictor of creating a continuing bond. The significance of the findings as well as the limitations of the study are addressed in the discussion.