Consecrated life in Poland is currently facing a multifaceted crisis characterized by declining vocations, aging communities, and systemic issues such as clericalism and abuse. Within this context, religious sisters constitute a high-risk group for mental health challenges, frequently experiencing secondary traumatization due to their demanding professional work with traumatized or disabled populations. Although spirituality traditionally serves as a coping resource, there is a significant risk of “spiritual bypassing” (Welwood, 1984) – an immature use of spiritual practices to avoid confronting underlying psychological difficulties. This research investigates the meaning of religiosity and spirituality in coping with stress among Polish nuns exhibiting low psychological resilience. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the study utilized the Resilience Measurement Scale (SPP-25) as a screening tool for the purposive selection of 12 participants with low resilience scores. Qualitative data were gathered via semi-structured in-depth interviews concerning spiritual experiences, stressors, and coping strategies. These data underwent reflexive thematic analysis with the support of NVivo software to identify latent meanings and patterns. As the first qualitative investigation into this specific intersection, the study aims to differentiate between adaptive religious coping and spiritual bypassing. Ultimately, the findings are intended to provide a theoretical foundation for enhancing religious formation and professional accompaniment, assisting consecrated women in transitioning toward a mature spirituality that promotes psychological well-being and personal development.
Reference
Welwood, J. (1984). Priciples of Inner Work: Psychological and Spiritual. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 16(1), 63-73.