Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Coping With War Trauma Among War Veterans in Zimbabwe

Bibliographic Data

ID4181680
AuthorsJulia Mutambara (0000-0002-3556-7053, Midlands State University, corresponding author), Tholene Sodi (0000-0001-7592-5145, University of Limpopo)
Year2018
Volume8
Issue1
Publication date2018-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSAGE Open (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2158-2440 • E-ISSN: 2158-2440
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/2158244017750433
OpenAlexW2784411523
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited26

Spirituality affects people's well-being and can be used to cope with traumatic experiences. The present study explored the role of spirituality in coping with war-related trauma among war veterans who fought in the Zimbabwean war of liberation between 1966 and 1979. Sixteen in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The study revealed the following seven themes that pointed to the role of spirituality in coping with war trauma: connectedness with ancestors, spirit mediums help to cope with fear, spirit of war, role of war songs and dances, spirituality and unity, spirit mediums helped with moral issues, and believing in God. The study recommends the need to be culturally sensitive to understand an individual's coping responses when faced with war-related trauma

Alternative medicine · Political science · Qualitative research · Social connectedness · Social science · Sociology · Spanish Civil War · Spirituality · Thematic analysis · Clinical Psychology · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Law · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Religion, Society, and Development · Social Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access