Aims:  The aims of the research were to:  (a) examine the association between spirituality and health behaviors, quality of life and illness management, (b) investigate psychometric properties of a new instrument to measure spirituality, and (c) explore the nature of spirituality among rural-dwelling people with chronic illnesses.

Methods:  A descriptive correlation design was used with both quantitative and qualitative data collection.  A questionnaire booklet with measures of the salient constructs spirituality, social support, hope, depression, health behaviors, illness management, quality of life and demographic characteristics was mailed to people with a chronic health condition who reside in rural Oregon and Montana.  Booklets were mailed until a sample of 111 were returned.  Follow-up telephone interviews with 10 participants and content analysis of open-ended written responses were used to further explore the nature of spirituality.  The Harrison’s Spirituality Scale, a new measure of spirituality, was evaluated for reliability and validity.

The goal of this project was to provide a better understanding, in rural populations, of the extent of spirituality; what spiritual practices are common; how spirituality is used and how spirituality is associated with health outcomes in chronic illness.  Knowledge gained from the study was anticipated to give direction for more extensive research that will add to our understanding of the relationships between spirituality, rural populations and chronic illness.