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Integral Human Development

The Role of Spirituality in Bereavement: What We Need to Understand

Helga Martins1, Joana Romeiro2 & Silvia Caldeira3
1Helga Martins
Pos-doctoral Fellow at Integral Human Development Program, PhD, RN, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Doctoral School (CADOS). Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health, Lisbon, Portugal.
Instituto Politécnico de Beja, Escola Superior de Saúde. R. Dr. José Correia Maltez, 7800-111 Beja, Portugal.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5804-7934
E-mail: hemartins@ucp.pt

2Joana Romeiro
Pos-doctoral Fellow at Integral Human Development Program, PhD, RN, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Doctoral School (CADOS). Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health, Lisbon, Portugal
ORCID: https://orcid.org/ 0000-0001-8867-2183
E-mail: jromeiro@ucp.pt

3Sílvia Caldeira
PhD, MSc, RN, Associate Professor, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculty of Health Sciences and Nursing, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health, Lisbon, Portugal.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9804-2297
E-mail: scaldeira@ucp.pt

The Role of Spirituality in Bereavement: What We Need to Understand

This systematic review of 33 qualitative studies explores spirituality in the bereavement journey, with a focus on parents’ and families’ experiences. The review identified seven categories of unmet spiritual needs and highlighted two major roles of spirituality: as a process and as an outcome in bereavement. Emphasizing spirituality in clinical practice is crucial for holistic care, helping the healing process in grief.

Martins, H., Romeiro, J., Casaleiro, T., Vieira, M., & Caldeira, S. (2024). Insights on spirituality and bereavement: A systematic review of qualitative studies. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33(5), 1593–1603. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17052

Abstract
Aim: To describe a synthesis of the experience related to the spirituality of those living a bereavement journey in primary qualitative studies.
Design: A systematic review of qualitative studies.
Data source: A systematic review was carried out in March 2019 and was updated in January 2023. Searching was accomplished by an online database, such as CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, MedicLatina, LILACS, SciELO and Academic Search Complete. The search strategy did not consider a timeline as an eligibility criterion. The quality of the studies was assessed, and a thematic synthesis was performed in this review.
Methods: A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted according to Saini and Shlonsky’s methodology.
Reporting method: PRISMA checklist.
Results: The review included 33 articles. Most of the studies were phenomenological and focused on parents’ and family experiences of bereavement. Seven significant categories emerged, which match unmet spiritual needs during the grieving process. Two major categories were identified regarding the role of spirituality in bereavement: Spirituality as a process and spirituality as an outcome.
Conclusion: In clinical practice, attention to spirituality and providing spiritual care is critical to guarantee a holistic approach for those experiencing bereavement.
Implications: The findings of our study could foster awareness that healthcare professionals should include the spiritual dimension in their clinical practice to provide holistic care to individuals, enhancing the healing process in bereavement.


OpenEdition sugere que esta publicação seja citada da seguinte forma:
helgamartins (1 de Outubro de 2024). The Role of Spirituality in Bereavement: What We Need to Understand. Desenvolvimento Humano Integral. Recuperado em 22 de Março de 2025 de https://doi.org/10.58079/12edo


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