Daily spiritual experiences before and after near-death experiences.

People who have had near-death experiences (NDEs) report more frequent daily spiritual experiences afterward than those who came close to death without having an NDE. Among 229 individuals who had a close brush with death, those who described an NDE (204 people) scored higher on a measure of daily spiritual experiences after the event, while prior spiritual experience levels did not differ between the two groups. The depth of the NDE was positively linked to the frequency of later spiritual experiences. These findings align with other reported aftereffects of NDEs.

Study at a glance

Abstract

People who have near-death experiences (NDEs) often report a subsequently increased sense of spirituality and a connection with their inner self and the world around them. In this study, we examined daily spiritual experiences, using Underwood and Teresi’s (2002) Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, among 229 persons who had come close to death. Frequency of daily spiritual experiences before the close brush with death did not differentiate participants who had NDEs (n 204) from those who did not (n 25). However, participants who described having had NDEs reported more daily spiritual experiences after their brush with death than those who did not, and frequency of daily spiritual experiences after the brush with death was positively correlated with depth of NDE. We discussed the implications of these findings in light of other reported aftereffects of NDEs and of daily spiritual experiences among other populations.