‘Why Does This Happen to Me?’ Religious and Spiritual Struggles among Psychiatric Inpatients in The Netherlands: A Narrative Analysis
Background. Religious and spiritual (R/S) struggles may impact mental health treatment and recovery processes. The current study investigates how R/S struggles play a role in mental illness and what approaches are experienced as helpful. Methods. Thirty-five semi-structured interviews with clinical...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/965 |
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| author | Joke C. van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse Hanneke Schaap-Jonker Gerlise Westerbroek Arjan W. Braam |
| author_facet | Joke C. van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse Hanneke Schaap-Jonker Gerlise Westerbroek Arjan W. Braam |
| author_sort | Joke C. van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Religious and spiritual (R/S) struggles may impact mental health treatment and recovery processes. The current study investigates how R/S struggles play a role in mental illness and what approaches are experienced as helpful. Methods. Thirty-five semi-structured interviews with clinical mental health patients in a Christian (N = 15) and a secular (N = 20) mental health clinic were narratively analyzed. Results. R/S struggles are common in people who suffer from mental illness and often coexist together with R/S support, mostly fluctuating over time. In summary, patients experience R/S struggles as negative feelings (e.g., loneliness, shame, mistrust) and the absence of positive feelings (e.g., hope and peace). These are influenced by someone’s R/S background and beliefs, as well as by the illness and other events. All participants appreciated a <i>receptive</i> approach (1) and many preferred an <i>active</i> approach (2) by mental health professionals. Some patients reported benefits from a <i>directive</i> approach (3). Conclusions. R/S struggles are tightly connected with other aspects that play a role in patients with mental illness. Mental health professionals are recommended to listen to patients’ narratives and carefully consider whether or not further interventions, in order to enhance R/S support and reduce R/S struggles, might be appropriate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:32:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3f66aabb1c904570a9a3b20b285c41bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:32:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f66aabb1c904570a9a3b20b285c41bb2023-11-24T02:17:26ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-10-01131096510.3390/rel13100965‘Why Does This Happen to Me?’ Religious and Spiritual Struggles among Psychiatric Inpatients in The Netherlands: A Narrative AnalysisJoke C. van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse0Hanneke Schaap-Jonker1Gerlise Westerbroek2Arjan W. Braam3Department of Religion and Theology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Religion and Theology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The NetherlandsKramer Psychologists, Haareweg 85, 7009 EB Doetinchem, The NetherlandsDepartment of Humanist Chaplaincy Studies for a Plural Society, University of Humanistic Studies, Kromme Nieuwegracht 29, 3512 HD Utrecht, The NetherlandsBackground. Religious and spiritual (R/S) struggles may impact mental health treatment and recovery processes. The current study investigates how R/S struggles play a role in mental illness and what approaches are experienced as helpful. Methods. Thirty-five semi-structured interviews with clinical mental health patients in a Christian (N = 15) and a secular (N = 20) mental health clinic were narratively analyzed. Results. R/S struggles are common in people who suffer from mental illness and often coexist together with R/S support, mostly fluctuating over time. In summary, patients experience R/S struggles as negative feelings (e.g., loneliness, shame, mistrust) and the absence of positive feelings (e.g., hope and peace). These are influenced by someone’s R/S background and beliefs, as well as by the illness and other events. All participants appreciated a <i>receptive</i> approach (1) and many preferred an <i>active</i> approach (2) by mental health professionals. Some patients reported benefits from a <i>directive</i> approach (3). Conclusions. R/S struggles are tightly connected with other aspects that play a role in patients with mental illness. Mental health professionals are recommended to listen to patients’ narratives and carefully consider whether or not further interventions, in order to enhance R/S support and reduce R/S struggles, might be appropriate.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/965clinical mental healthreligious/spiritual strugglesqualitative studysemi-structured interviews |
| spellingShingle | Joke C. van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse Hanneke Schaap-Jonker Gerlise Westerbroek Arjan W. Braam ‘Why Does This Happen to Me?’ Religious and Spiritual Struggles among Psychiatric Inpatients in The Netherlands: A Narrative Analysis Religions clinical mental health religious/spiritual struggles qualitative study semi-structured interviews |
| title | ‘Why Does This Happen to Me?’ Religious and Spiritual Struggles among Psychiatric Inpatients in The Netherlands: A Narrative Analysis |
| title_full | ‘Why Does This Happen to Me?’ Religious and Spiritual Struggles among Psychiatric Inpatients in The Netherlands: A Narrative Analysis |
| title_fullStr | ‘Why Does This Happen to Me?’ Religious and Spiritual Struggles among Psychiatric Inpatients in The Netherlands: A Narrative Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘Why Does This Happen to Me?’ Religious and Spiritual Struggles among Psychiatric Inpatients in The Netherlands: A Narrative Analysis |
| title_short | ‘Why Does This Happen to Me?’ Religious and Spiritual Struggles among Psychiatric Inpatients in The Netherlands: A Narrative Analysis |
| title_sort | why does this happen to me religious and spiritual struggles among psychiatric inpatients in the netherlands a narrative analysis |
| topic | clinical mental health religious/spiritual struggles qualitative study semi-structured interviews |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/10/965 |
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