Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31192/np.15.1.4
Spirituality as a resource of power and resilience of families in risk circumstances
Ivan Leutar
Zdravka Leutar
orcid.org/0000-0001-9902-507X
Abstract
Spirituality is defined as the need to find the end of meaning and purpose in life and a desire to live an integrated life. Studies have shown that religious families, in relation to those who are not, have a higher level of faith and hope of a good outcome during periods of insecurity, uncertainty and stress. Also, their members are less likely to express certain social pathologies. The aim of this Paper is to get an insight into participants’ perception of spirituality as a means of dealing with high-risk conditions in the family, so the research question was about the experience of participants who practice spiritual life on the role of spirituality in facing risks in the family. Participants were persons who find spirituality important in their life and draw strength from it for life’s challenges. There were 12 participants, both sexes, aged 33-57, all highly educated. For data collection, a qualitative approach was used and a method of semi-structured interviews. For data analysis, thematic analysis was used. The following results were obtained: Spirituality is a possible resource of empowerment of family members’ at all family risks. Spirituality as a source of power is possible when faith, hope and love are recognized as true life values and accompanied by spiritual practices such as prayer, reading the Word of God and the sacraments as special resources to cope with difficult family situations, as well as fostering unity, permanent education in spirituality and sustained growth in spirituality. The importance of authentic spirituality of life that is manifested in concrete actions in the family and the environment. The crises that occur in the spiritual life are associated with crises of faith and identity and serve as a means of strengthening and transformation of the very person and family members. To use spirituality as a resource of resilience, it is important to have predispositions in terms of religious education of family members, nurturing spirituality from an early age, but it was also recognized that spirituality can be detected as an empowering resource not before a crisis and can serve as a means of transformation of family life.
Keywords
spirituality; family resilience; family at risk; sources of power; the welfare of spirituality; authenticity; crisis of faith and identity; faith; hope and love
Hrčak ID:
177893
URI
Publication date:
21.3.2017.
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