Navigating in Seclusion: The Complicated Terrain of Children’s Spirituality in Trauma, Grief and Loss
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2016
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Abstract
The topic of spirituality has become an important area of focus in social work; however, there is great disparity in the attention extended to preadolescent children’s spirituality. Research with older individuals has demonstrated that spirituality is an important and significant factor in trauma, grief, and loss (TGL). It can be a source of strength, nurturance, comfort, and support, and it is a resource for resiliency, coping, and posttraumatic growth. However, not much is known about children’s spirituality in the area of TGL. Therefore, this research study sought to investigate the processes, experiences, and understandings of children’s spirituality in TGL in outpatient counselling.
This study employed a constructivist grounded theory methodology, which is helpful in understanding the interpretations, attributable meanings, and experiences of participants in areas that are complex and underexplored. Semi-structured interviews were employed with eighteen participants including six children, five parents, and seven clinicians at a counselling centre in Northwestern Ontario. Theoretical sampling and a constant comparative method of data analysis were conducted in regards to the interpretations of participant’s descriptions.
The theoretical model that emerged was navigating in seclusion. Children in this study were found to have robust and complex spiritual lives with abundant spiritual experiences, relationships, activities, and practices. Spirituality was sparked and catapulted by TGL events, and children experienced spiritual struggles, engaged in spiritual questioning, increased their spiritual activities and practices, and entrusted spiritual relationships. However, spirituality was understood to be a weird phenomenon that was not socially validated or supported, and it was deemed to be taboo by the participants. Many challenges and processes were exposed, and the overall experience was found to be isolating.
Previous research with preadolescent children has contributed to the nascent development of theoretical knowledge; however, many gaps in the literature remain. This study addresses the gap in the area of TGL, and advances our understanding of children’s spirituality in social work. The findings of this study are related to the literature, and contribute to, and extend the literature on TGL and children’s spirituality. The theoretical contributions, implications for practice and future research are discussed, and the limitations of the study are considered.
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Education--Social Sciences, Social Work, Mental Health, Psychology--Developmental, Psychology--Social
Citation
Boynton, H. M. (2016). Navigating in Seclusion: The Complicated Terrain of Children’s Spirituality in Trauma, Grief and Loss (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27063