Spiritual Boredom:  A Neglected Emotion

The existential vacuum manifests itself mainly in a state of boredom.
(Viktor E. Frankl; Austrian neurologist, psychologist, and philosopher; 1905–1997)

Even though boredom is a heavily researched subject at the moment, spiritual boredom has so far been largely neglected in research. We have now decided to address this ‘blind spot’ and were surprised to find out that boredom frequently occurs during spiritual practice – and can have a clear detrimental effect.

Levels, Antecedents, and Effects of Spiritual Boredom

 The control-value theory (CVT) provided the academic framework for the survey. The CVT posits that boredom – an unpleasant, aversive emotion characterised by changed time perception, wandering thoughts and the desire to escape the current situation – is primarily driven by two factors: perceived control of the ongoing activity and the subjective value we attach to it. Thus, boredom develops when we feel over-challenged or under-challenged by an activity or task – a sign of an unsuitable level of control. And it also develops when we deem the value of the activity low.

Our Findings on Spiritual Boredom

 In a large-scale study analysing five typical spiritual contexts (yoga, meditation, silent retreats, Catholic sermons, and pilgrimages), we surveyed  1,267 adults.

• We found that spiritual boredom occurs at a significant level.
• Our results show that the central triggers of spiritual boredom are in fact the feeling of being over-challenged or under-challenged as well as a lack of personal relevance for those practising the spiritual activity.
• Both have a negative effect on motivation and mindfulness during practice and may seriously dampen its positive effect.
• Our research shows that boredom in spiritual contexts can pose a serious obstacle, which reduces the transformative power of these practices.

The following figure shows the key results of our study.

Conclusions

 In a world shaped by global crises, such as the climate crisis and social tensions, more and more people are hoping to find orientation through spiritual practice. However, our study shows that perceived boredom may inhibit this process. 

From our study, possibilities for reducing spiritual boredom can be deduced:

• We recommend better personalizing spiritual practices to ensure that individuals are neither over- nor under-challenged.
• Spiritual teachers should maintain an active dialogue with practitioners to address any feelings of being over- or under-challenged.
• It is important to consistently emphasize the relevance and meaning of spiritual practice.
  Spiritual teachers should also strive to be more responsive to the needs of those engaging in these practices.
• Additionally, they should highlight the significance of spiritual practice in leading a fulfilling life.

These measures could help to reduce spiritual boredom and maximise the positive effects of spiritual practice - and promote its transformative value for our society.

 This first study on spiritual boredom could open up a whole new field of research. We hope to have made an initial contribution by highlighting the negative effects of boredom during spiritual practice and demonstrating ways to reduce it.

Thank you for your interest in our study!