Religiosity, spirituality, and trauma recovery in the lives of children and adolescents.

Abstract

Spirituality and religion are important but often neglected areas of clinical exploration. In recent years there has been some growth in traumatic studies' literature with regard to religion and spirituality in the provision of mental health services. However, while these studies demonstrate the importance of religious and spiritually competent care, much of the research involved refers to adults and has less emphasis on how children and adolescents utilize these constructs. In particular, a review of the literature reveals a limited body of research that explores how children apply religion and spirituality when coping with traumatic events. This literature review aims to contribute to the existing knowledge base by exploring the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of children and adolescents who have been, or are currently subjected to traumatic experience. It aims to delineate ways to incorporate and acknowledge the religion and spirituality of children and adolescents who are trauma survivors in treatment.

Healing after traumatic events: Aligning interventions with cultural background and religious and spiritual beliefs

“…Furthermore, although religion and spirituality are commonly included as descriptors of multicultural sensitivity, most therapists receive little, if any, training to in this specific area of counseling skills (Vieten et al, 2013). This is particularly true for mental health professionals who work with children and youth (Bryant‐Davis et al, 2012; Walker & Hathaway, 2013).…”

“…Although not generally studied in conjunction with child and adolescent interventions, R/S coping strategies have proven effective in helping individuals make sense of loss and trauma as well as helping individuals improve their life satisfaction (Ano & Vasconcelles, 2005; Aten et al, 2014; Bryant‐Davis et al, 2012; Walker & Hathaway, 2013). In the professional literature specific to children's counseling needs, R/S needs have been considered when assisting children with a history of sexual abuse (Walker, Reese, Hughes, & Troskie, 2010); encouraging victims to offer forgiveness to those who have inflicted harm (Diblasio, Worthington, & Jennings, 2013); and supporting healing in children exposed to traumatic events (Bryant‐Davis et al, 2012).…”

Cultural Psychology of Coping with Disasters

“…These two ideas are related, rather than being independent constructs. Through a combination of both constructs, individuals are able to seek support from a divine being as well as from other members of a religious community, make meaning in the face of distressing events, and ultimately promote resilience, healing, and well-being (Bryant- Davis et al 2012).…”

More than just child’s play: symbolic expressions of illness and spirit

“…Fowler 1981Fowler , 1996Roehlkepartain et al 2006), education (e.g. Champagne 2008; Hay and Nye 2006;Hyde 2008), and mental health and health related behaviours (Cotton et al 2006;Van Dyke et al 2009), there has been very little direct study of children's spirituality in the context of physical illness (Bryant-Davis et al 2012;Elkins and Cavendish 2004;Kamper, Van Cleve, and Savedra 2010;Kenny 1999;Oman and Thoresen 2006).…”