{"id":{"repo_id":"auckland-tech","oai_identifier":"oai:openrepository.aut.ac.nz:10292/15075"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/auckland-tech/oai:openrepository.aut.ac.nz:10292/15075","repository":{"repo_id":"auckland-tech","name":"AUT University","base_url":"https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"The Role of Spirituality in Pasifika/Pacific Mental Health: A Scoping Review","abstract":"Mental health continues to be an increasing concern among Pasifika/Pacific peoples. The general lack of cultural and spiritual competency among mental health practitioners remains a barrier for Pasifika/Pacific individuals and families in accessing services. Pasifika/Pacific worldviews tend to be different from the dominant Western health perspectives, and Pasifika/Pacific people therefore seem to be underrepresented in the mental health workforce. Through the use of a scoping literature review methodology, this review explored how the role of spirituality in Pasifika/Pacific mental health is discussed and reported in the academic literature. A total of 2478 online articles were identified, and 19 met the criteria to be included in the final review. Using content analysis, the data revealed four overarching themes: Understanding Mental Health in the Spiritual Context, Spiritual Causes of Mental Illness/Distress, Spiritual Coping from Mental Illness/Distress, and Spiritual Practices for Healing Mental Illness/Distress. The scoping literature review found that the role of spirituality is primarily understood within traditional constructions, including tapu and sacred relationships, and/or Christian constructions of wellness. Within traditional constructions, spiritual curses and possession were found to be key causes of mental illness/distress as a result of breaching tapu and sacred relationships, as well as healing practices; whilst Christian orientations of spirituality were found to provide effective coping and intervention strategies. The review emphasises the necessity of attending to spiritual relationships with God, people and the land/environment, keeping them in balance to achieve mental wellness. Viewing the Pasifika/Pacific individual as a relational, spiritual and holistic being is also essential for effective mental health interventions. As this study looked at Pasifika/Pacific groups as a whole, further research in this area would benefit from exploring Pasifika/Pacific spirituality from an ethnic specific point of view. This would allow for a more thorough understanding of mental health constructions that would contribute to a more personalised approach to mental health services for Pasifika/Pacific service users.","abstract_html":"Mental health continues to be an increasing concern among Pasifika/Pacific peoples. The general lack of cultural and spiritual competency among mental health practitioners remains a barrier for Pasifika/Pacific individuals and families in accessing services. Pasifika/Pacific worldviews tend to be different from the dominant Western health perspectives, and Pasifika/Pacific people therefore seem to be underrepresented in the mental health workforce. Through the use of a scoping literature review methodology, this review explored how the role of spirituality in Pasifika/Pacific mental health is discussed and reported in the academic literature. A total of 2478 online articles were identified, and 19 met the criteria to be included in the final review. Using content analysis, the data revealed four overarching themes: Understanding Mental Health in the Spiritual Context, Spiritual Causes of Mental Illness/Distress, Spiritual Coping from Mental Illness/Distress, and Spiritual Practices for Healing Mental Illness/Distress. The scoping literature review found that the role of spirituality is primarily understood within traditional constructions, including tapu and sacred relationships, and/or Christian constructions of wellness. Within traditional constructions, spiritual curses and possession were found to be key causes of mental illness/distress as a result of breaching tapu and sacred relationships, as well as healing practices; whilst Christian orientations of spirituality were found to provide effective coping and intervention strategies. The review emphasises the necessity of attending to spiritual relationships with God, people and the land/environment, keeping them in balance to achieve mental wellness. Viewing the Pasifika/Pacific individual as a relational, spiritual and holistic being is also essential for effective mental health interventions. As this study looked at Pasifika/Pacific groups as a whole, further research in this area would benefit from exploring Pasifika/Pacific spirituality from an ethnic specific point of view. This would allow for a more thorough understanding of mental health constructions that would contribute to a more personalised approach to mental health services for Pasifika/Pacific service users.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kaipo, Allana"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2022,"date_issued":"2022","date_published":"2022","updated_at":"2026-07-27T18:46:03Z","subjects":[],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["hdl:10292/15075"],"render_values":[{"text":"hdl:10292/15075","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":null,"outbound_label":null,"outbound_source":null},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2022"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["hdl:10292/15075"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.other","label":"Dc Description Other","values":["Mental health continues to be an increasing concern among Pasifika/Pacific peoples. The general lack of cultural and spiritual competency among mental health practitioners remains a barrier for Pasifika/Pacific individuals and families in accessing services. Pasifika/Pacific worldviews tend to be different from the dominant Western health perspectives, and Pasifika/Pacific people therefore seem to be underrepresented in the mental health workforce. Through the use of a scoping literature review methodology, this review explored how the role of spirituality in Pasifika/Pacific mental health is discussed and reported in the academic literature. A total of 2478 online articles were identified, and 19 met the criteria to be included in the final review. Using content analysis, the data revealed four overarching themes: Understanding Mental Health in the Spiritual Context, Spiritual Causes of Mental Illness/Distress, Spiritual Coping from Mental Illness/Distress, and Spiritual Practices for Healing Mental Illness/Distress. The scoping literature review found that the role of spirituality is primarily understood within traditional constructions, including tapu and sacred relationships, and/or Christian constructions of wellness. Within traditional constructions, spiritual curses and possession were found to be key causes of mental illness/distress as a result of breaching tapu and sacred relationships, as well as healing practices; whilst Christian orientations of spirituality were found to provide effective coping and intervention strategies. The review emphasises the necessity of attending to spiritual relationships with God, people and the land/environment, keeping them in balance to achieve mental wellness. Viewing the Pasifika/Pacific individual as a relational, spiritual and holistic being is also essential for effective mental health interventions. As this study looked at Pasifika/Pacific groups as a whole, further research in this area would benefit from exploring Pasifika/Pacific spirituality from an ethnic specific point of view. This would allow for a more thorough understanding of mental health constructions that would contribute to a more personalised approach to mental health services for Pasifika/Pacific service users."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Role of Spirituality in Pasifika/Pacific Mental Health: A Scoping Review"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:date.issued":["2022"],"dc:description.other":["Mental health continues to be an increasing concern among Pasifika/Pacific peoples. The general lack of cultural and spiritual competency among mental health practitioners remains a barrier for Pasifika/Pacific individuals and families in accessing services. Pasifika/Pacific worldviews tend to be different from the dominant Western health perspectives, and Pasifika/Pacific people therefore seem to be underrepresented in the mental health workforce. Through the use of a scoping literature review methodology, this review explored how the role of spirituality in Pasifika/Pacific mental health is discussed and reported in the academic literature. A total of 2478 online articles were identified, and 19 met the criteria to be included in the final review. Using content analysis, the data revealed four overarching themes: Understanding Mental Health in the Spiritual Context, Spiritual Causes of Mental Illness/Distress, Spiritual Coping from Mental Illness/Distress, and Spiritual Practices for Healing Mental Illness/Distress. The scoping literature review found that the role of spirituality is primarily understood within traditional constructions, including tapu and sacred relationships, and/or Christian constructions of wellness. Within traditional constructions, spiritual curses and possession were found to be key causes of mental illness/distress as a result of breaching tapu and sacred relationships, as well as healing practices; whilst Christian orientations of spirituality were found to provide effective coping and intervention strategies. The review emphasises the necessity of attending to spiritual relationships with God, people and the land/environment, keeping them in balance to achieve mental wellness. Viewing the Pasifika/Pacific individual as a relational, spiritual and holistic being is also essential for effective mental health interventions. As this study looked at Pasifika/Pacific groups as a whole, further research in this area would benefit from exploring Pasifika/Pacific spirituality from an ethnic specific point of view. This would allow for a more thorough understanding of mental health constructions that would contribute to a more personalised approach to mental health services for Pasifika/Pacific service users."],"dc:identifier":["hdl:10292/15075"],"dc:title":["The Role of Spirituality in Pasifika/Pacific Mental Health: A Scoping Review"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T18:46:03Z"}