Sexual-Spiritual Development

This study examined the relationship between women s
sexual and spiritual development. Thirteen
post-menopausal women were interviewed using
qualitative and creative expression methods. Creative
expression methods included a timeline of the
participants self-determined salient experiences of
sexual-spiritual development and collages depicting
participants view of their sexual-spiritual self.
Both the timeline and collage were used for
individual interviews.Two test measures, the Short
Index of Self-Actualization and the Spiritual
Perspectives Scale, were used to assess participants
individually and as a group. Results of both tests
showed that this group is high in levels of
self-actualization and spirituality as measured by
the instruments. For some of the participants
menopause signaled the beginning of their conscious
sexual-spiritual journey.

Autorentext

Dr. Scarpa-Mannina received her masters and doctoral degrees fromthe Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. She also has a finearts background. Her years as a licensed massage therapistenhanced her interest in the mind-body connection.

Klappentext

This study examined the relationship between women'ssexual and spiritual development. Thirteenpost-menopausal women were interviewed usingqualitative and creative expression methods. Creativeexpression methods included a timeline of theparticipants' self-determined salient experiences ofsexual-spiritual development and collages depictingparticipants' view of their sexual-spiritual self.Both the timeline and collage were used forindividual interviews.Two test measures, the ShortIndex of Self-Actualization and the SpiritualPerspectives Scale, were used to assess participantsindividually and as a group. Results of both testsshowed that this group is high in levels ofself-actualization and spirituality as measured bythe instruments. For some of the participantsmenopause signaled the beginning of their conscioussexual-spiritual journey.