Spirituality: Towards a theoretical framework

Abstract Integrating existing theory and research, this paper develops a theoretical framework of spirituality. Seven pathways are developed through which spirituality engenders a wide range of salutary outcomes. The seven pathways are: health promotive behaviors and lifestyles, social support, psychodynamics of ritual, psychodynamics of cognitive schemata, ego challenge, quantum effects and supernatural effects. A discussion of the practice and research implications that flow from the framework concludes the paper.