Using data from 1,352 middle-school Israeli adolescents, the current study examines the interface of spirituality and character strengths and its longitudinal contribution to subjective well-being and prosociality. Participants were approached three times over a 14-months period and completed measures of character strengths, spirituality, subjective well-being (positive emotions, life satisfaction), and prosociality. Findings revealed a fourth-factor structure of character strengths that included the typical tripartite classification of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intellectual strengths together with spirituality emerging as a statistically autonomous factor. Spirituality (...) was stable over time and contributed to higher subjective well-being and prosociality both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Discussion focuses on spirituality as a fundamental character strength and an important aspect of positive development. (shrink)

There is alarming psychological dysfunction within our universities. Depression, together with anxiety, substance abuse and chronic stress is widespread among students and faculty. Additionally, there is increasing evidence of growing cultural, racial, political and other social-borne friction on and around campuses. Clinical and epidemiological evidence suggests that spirituality could have protective benefits for mental health. But the current functioning of many of our universities discourages introducing spirituality in academic culture, mission and values, not to mention curricular and extracurricular activities. This (...) article investigates the root causes of this situation in different professional fields, namely pedagogy and psychology education, healthcare education, economics and business education and architecture education. Initiatives are presented where opportunities for spiritual approaches and practices are provided in universities. Finally, the vision of an ‘Awakened Campus’ is discussed which aims to create free and safe spaces for students, faculty and university leaders for spiritual growth and development. (shrink)