The Role of Spirituality in 21st-Century Education: A Literature Review on Character Formation, Student Well-being, and Pedagogical Integration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61194/jrkpk.v5i2.904Keywords:
spirituality, education, character development, student well-being, holistic learning, spiritual intelligence, mindfulness, contemplative pedagogyAbstract
Contemporary education increasingly emphasizes cognitive and technical competencies alongside psychological well-being, character development, and meaning. This review synthesized evidence on spirituality in 21st-century education, distinguishing it from religiosity. A systematic narrative literature review searched Scopus, ERIC, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2015 and 2024. Study selection followed PRISMA principles. Eligible studies addressed spirituality in education, character development, psychological well-being, academic engagement, or pedagogical practice. Thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s framework, and methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) 2018. Seventy-eight studies met the inclusion and quality assessment criteria. Four themes emerged: (1) spirituality as a multidimensional capacity encompassing meaning, purpose, connection, values, and transcendence; (2) potential benefits of spiritual-related practices for attention, emotional regulation, self-reflection, and compassion; (3) associations between spirituality, character development, psychological well-being, resilience, and academic engagement; and (4) pedagogical approaches, including Spiritual Intelligence training, Mindfulness-Based Social-Emotional Learning, and Relational Pedagogy, to integrate spirituality into educational practice. Spirituality may contribute to holistic education by supporting character development, psychological well-being, and student engagement. Its integration requires teacher preparation, cultural responsiveness, contextual adaptation, and clear boundaries that respect religious diversity and secular educational principles.
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