Religion and Spiritual Well-Being: A Qualitative Exploration of Perspectives of Higher Education Faculty in Qatar and its Challenge to Western Well-Being Paradigms

Hessa Al-Thani^*

• Qatar University, Doha, Qatar

Spiritual well-being (SWB) is a multidimensional and multifaceted concept that encompasses various spheres of human experience, including a person's spirituality, faith, identity, values, sense of purpose in life, etc. To explore the complex facets of SWB, this study utilized an interpretive qualitative research approach, looking at round table (focus group) discussion data obtained from a diverse group of college and university faculty members in Qatar. This research aims to gain a contextualized understanding of how participants affiliated to different higher education institutions perceive and experience SWB. A purposive sampling technique was employed to recruit participants representing different institutional affiliations. To elicit participants' perspectives on SWB, thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes and patterns that emerged from the focus groups, viewed through the lens of socio-cultural theory. This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding the influence of cultural and religious factors on the concept of SWB in higher education, particularly in the Qatari context, where cultural factors, especially Islamic values shape faculty wellbeing. Findings reveal that SWB is a very personal and subjective experience, largely influenced by religious beliefs, values, and personal life experiences. This study contributes to socio-cultural theories of well-being by highlighting how SWB in Qatar challenges and expands the existing Western paradigms of well-being. Key themes extracted from the data include the intimate relationship between religion (Islam), spirituality, and SWB; the interconnectedness between SWB and adherence to Islamic values and ethics; and the role of SWB in defining identity and in finding meaning and purpose in life. The practical implications of this study suggest that higher education institutions in Qatar should consider integrating the concept of SWB into faculty support practices, fostering environments that acknowledge and support the role of spirituality in well-being.