An exploration of religious coping in carers of people with psychosis

The review of literature critiques both theoretical and empirical research relating to religion and coping. It identifies core components of the process of coping and relates these to ways in which religious beliefs have influenced coping in different clinical populations. Finally the relevance of the religious coping literature to clinical psychology is considered, and future research opportunities highlighted. Ten carers of people with psychosis were then interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Research was conducted and analysed using Grounded Theory. The core category of "using religion as a balancing act" emerged from the analysis. Five main categories were also identified. These categories were inter-related and comprised a process model, illustrating how the participants used religion in coping with their roles as carers. Results suggested that participants' religious beliefs contributed to flexible coping. It is suggested that coping related to a responsibility continuum. At one end of the continuum there was individual responsibility to change challenging situations, and at the other responsibility was attributed to God. How participants were placed on this continuum was influenced by several factors, including relationships with mental health services. The clinical implications of these processes are discussed.