Spirituality for Coping with the Trauma of a Loved One’s Death During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Italian Qualitative Study

Abstract

Spirituality may be a key factor in reducing the negative psychological effects of traumatic events and a means by which the experience of grief can be processed.The objective of the present research is to assess whether and how spirituality provided concrete support in those who lost a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants are 8 people from the most affected cities in northern Italy. They were interviewed in depth, the interviews were transcribed and the texts were analyzed through Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. The results show that spirituality has been found to be a protective factor with regard to the processing of grief in crisis situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular with regard to the belief that the deceased loved one is now in an otherworldly dimension. In addition, the celebration of a funeral rite offers support to the grieving person in the early stages of mourning thus laying the foundation for a healthy grieving process. It is therefore important to support individual spirituality, which can be a useful tool for processing the traumatic experience, especially in difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prolonged grief in relatives of deceased patients due to COVID-19 is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms: A survey-based study in Peru

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Exploring Emotions Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic through Death Education: A Qualitative Study at Italian Primary Schools

“…In the realm of death education, it is crucial to distinguish between religiosity and spirituality, enabling individuals to develop their transcendental dimension while benefiting from mindfulness, resilience, and a non-fearful approach to the topic of death, regardless of religious beliefs [ 44 ]. Numerous studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of embracing the spiritual dimension as a vital tool to address illness, promote well-being, and provide compassion and empathy during periods of increased stress, distress, and anxiety [ 48 , 49 , 50 ]. Meditation has been shown to calm the mind, increase awareness, and create optimal conditions for reflection and generative thinking [ 51 ].…”

The Relationship of Art Therapy to Spirituality

“…(iv) Art and Spirituality Have Similar Functions in the Psyche and Need Each Other Damasio (2010, as cited in Colette, 2019) said that the arts survive thanks to their therapeutic value, which is a compensation against human disasters and suffering. Similarly, many studies are available that suggest spirituality to be associated with positive coping and healthy development (Biancalani et al, 2022;Can & Duran, 2021;Craig et al, 2022;Corrigan et al, 2003;Richardson et al, 2022;Muehlhausen, 2021). In one example where art collaborates with spirituality in healing the human soul, Kearney and Weininger (2012) recommended art therapy as an excellent approach to bring awareness to the soul in the relationship between fear of death and suffering.…”