Yearning for Something More: Inductive Thematic Analysis of Spiritual Yearning.
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| Title: | Yearning for Something More: Inductive Thematic Analysis of Spiritual Yearning. |
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| Authors: | Wilt, Joshua (AUTHOR), Exline, Julie (AUTHOR), Van Tongeren, Daryl (AUTHOR), Van Cappellen, Patty (AUTHOR), Swartz, Sarah (AUTHOR), Lindquist, Maria (AUTHOR), Blanco, Laura (AUTHOR), Pope, Jessica (AUTHOR), Martinez, Sarah (AUTHOR), Liu, Emory (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. Jan-Mar2026, Vol. 36 Issue 1, p323-342. 20p. |
| Subjects: | Thematic analysis, Spirituality, Desire, Supernatural, Qualitative research, Existentialism, Agnosticism, Transcendence (Philosophy) |
| Abstract: | A large and growing number of people who are not affiliated with religion still yearn for spiritual connections. However, little empirical work has looked at the ways in which spiritual yearning manifests among the nonreligious. We conducted an exploratory, qualitative study to investigate different kinds of spiritual yearning. We used Prolific to recruit two samples of nonreligious adult participants who indicated experiencing some degree of spiritual yearning (N = 199; n = 100 from the United States and n = 99 from the United Kingdom). Participants provided open-ended responses to the prompt, "In your own words, please describe what spiritual yearning is for you and what you are yearning for." We analyzed the data using inductive thematic analysis, a qualitative method that involves bottom-up identification and conceptual sorting of salient themes into overarching themes containing subthemes. Overarching themes (subthemes in parentheses) included (a) Existential Chasm (e.g. filling a religion-related void, death/afterlife, higher power), (b) Transcendent Peace and Connection (e.g. contentment, authenticity, connection to others and the universe, generativity), (c) Existential Meaning (e.g. deeper meaning, wanting something more, reassurance), and (d) Supernatural Experiences (e.g. supernatural, otherworldly, karma, fate/destiny). Certain subthemes were more frequently endorsed by never religious individuals than by those who were previously religious. Many participants reported a desire to attain the existential benefits that religion provides outside of organized religion. These results suggest that many people who spiritually yearn do so in myriad ways, yet they may prefer personalized means of discovery to those offered by traditional religions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | A large and growing number of people who are not affiliated with religion still yearn for spiritual connections. However, little empirical work has looked at the ways in which spiritual yearning manifests among the nonreligious. We conducted an exploratory, qualitative study to investigate different kinds of spiritual yearning. We used Prolific to recruit two samples of nonreligious adult participants who indicated experiencing some degree of spiritual yearning (N = 199; n = 100 from the United States and n = 99 from the United Kingdom). Participants provided open-ended responses to the prompt, "In your own words, please describe what spiritual yearning is for you and what you are yearning for." We analyzed the data using inductive thematic analysis, a qualitative method that involves bottom-up identification and conceptual sorting of salient themes into overarching themes containing subthemes. Overarching themes (subthemes in parentheses) included (a) Existential Chasm (e.g. filling a religion-related void, death/afterlife, higher power), (b) Transcendent Peace and Connection (e.g. contentment, authenticity, connection to others and the universe, generativity), (c) Existential Meaning (e.g. deeper meaning, wanting something more, reassurance), and (d) Supernatural Experiences (e.g. supernatural, otherworldly, karma, fate/destiny). Certain subthemes were more frequently endorsed by never religious individuals than by those who were previously religious. Many participants reported a desire to attain the existential benefits that religion provides outside of organized religion. These results suggest that many people who spiritually yearn do so in myriad ways, yet they may prefer personalized means of discovery to those offered by traditional religions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10508619 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/10508619.2025.2505355 |
