Work

Existential Care in a Modern Society: Pastoral Care Consultations in Local Communities in Norway

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Data from a recent survey on pastoral care consultations (PCC) in Norway (N=408) is presented, showing that PCC is a service priests and deacons provide for people in the municipality, independent of faith affiliation. The most common PCC themes regarded mental and social distress, such as grief, conflicts, and loneliness. Furthermore, illness-related themes were prominent, and a specter of religious and moral issues. We discuss the results in the context of ongoing changes and reforms in both church and health care, and point at possible health promoting dimensions of PCC as existential assistance in the space between personal network support and public health care.

Source: International Journal of Practical Theology

DOI: 10.1515/ijpt-2020-0027

Authors: Lars Johan Danbolt, Hetty Zock, Anne Austad, Anne Hege Grung, Hans Stifoss-Hanssen

Institutions: MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, University of Groningen, VID Specialized University, University of Oslo

Language: English

Topic: Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W3166389481

FWCI: 2.21

Cites: 11

Cited by: 17

Related to: 10