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. 2025 Nov 28:59:e20250143.
doi: 10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2025-0143en. eCollection 2025.

Religious-spiritual coping among family members of children requiring continuous and complex care: a mixed-methods study

[Article in English, Spanish]
Bruna Josiane de Lima  1 , Aline Cristiane Cavicchioli Okido  2 , Wendy Sue Looman  3 , Aline Helena Appoloni Eduardo  1 , Fernanda Machado Silva-Rodrigues  4 , Fabrine Aguilar Jardim  2 , Regina Aparecida Garcia Lima  2
Affiliations

Religious-spiritual coping among family members of children requiring continuous and complex care: a mixed-methods study

[Article in English, Spanish]
Bruna Josiane de Lima et al. Rev Esc Enferm USP. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: to analyze the use of religious-spiritual coping among family members of children who require continuous and complex care.

Methods: a mixed-methods study was developed in Brazil with family members of children requiring continuous and complex care. In the quantitative stage, 51 family members answered a demographics survey and the Brief Scale for Spiritual/Religious Coping. In the qualitative stage, 15 family members answered an open-ended question about the practice of religiosity and spirituality in their daily lives.

Results: family members' age and number of residents in the household were significantly associated with religious-spiritual coping. Three thematic categories emerged from the statements, revealing an experience marked by trust in God's designs and relief from suffering provided by faith.

Conclusion: family members in this study used positive religious-spiritual coping strategies more frequently, especially those from smaller families. However, younger family members used negative religious-spiritual coping strategies more frequently.

Objetivo:: analisar o uso do coping religioso-espiritual entre familiares de crianças que necessitam de cuidados contínuos e complexos. Métodos: estudo de métodos mistos, desenvolvido no Brasil, com familiares de crianças que necessitam de cuidados contínuos e complexos. Na etapa quantitativa, 51 familiares responderam a um questionário demográfico e à Brief Scale for Spiritual/Religious Coping. Na etapa qualitativa, 15 familiares responderam a uma pergunta aberta sobre a prática de religiosidade e espiritualidade em suas vidas cotidianas.

Resultados:: a idade dos familiares e o número de moradores no domicílio foram significativamente associados ao coping religioso-espiritual. Três categorias temáticas emergiram dos depoimentos, revelando uma experiência marcada pela confiança nos desígnios de Deus e pelo alívio do sofrimento proporcionado pela fé.

Conclusão:: os familiares deste estudo utilizaram estratégias de coping religioso-espiritual positivas com maior frequência, especialmente aqueles de famílias menores. No entanto, os familiares mais jovens utilizaram estratégias de coping religioso-espiritual negativas com maior frequência.

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