Lutas religiosas e espirituais: processos de resiliência no luto de pessoas idosas institucionalizadas

Abstract

Institutionalized older adults face several challenges that may compromise their adjustment, with the grief associated with the loss of significant people emerging as one of the most substantial. Spirituality and religiosity (S/R) are frequently identified as protective factors in the face of adversity; however, they may also involve experiences of tension, conflict, or doubt, taking the form of Religious and Spiritual Struggles (RSS). The present study aimed to understand how S/R, and particularly RSS, are experienced by institutionalized older adults after the loss of someone significant, and how these experiences relate to the processes of grief adaptation and resilience-building. To this end, a qualitative methodology was used, through semi-structured interviews with eight older adults residing in a Residential Structure for Older People (ERPI) in Portugal. The data were analyzed using the Thematic Analysis proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006). The results revealed three main themes: Life Experiences, Experience of Loss and Grief, and Processes of Resilience and Adaptation to Loss. From the results, it was possible to understand that the participants' life trajectories are marked by accumulated adversities, including challenges precipitating and concomitant with institutionalization. Although less explicit, RSS manifested mainly through questioning of divine will and the search for meaning, with continuity observed in the connection to religious faith, as well as the recurrent use of religious coping strategies. The results suggest that RSS may coexist with resilient adaptation processes, constituting relevant elements for understanding grief and psychological health in institutionalized older adults.