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

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...

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Main Authors: Mutambara, Julia, Sodi, Tholene
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publications Inc. 2021
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Online Access:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2158244017750433
http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4555
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author Mutambara, Julia
Sodi, Tholene
author_facet Mutambara, Julia
Sodi, Tholene
author_sort Mutambara, Julia
collection DSpace
description 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.
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spelling ir-11408-45552022-06-27T13:49:06Z Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Coping With War Trauma Among War Veterans in Zimbabwe Mutambara, Julia Sodi, Tholene spirituality war trauma coping Zimbabwe 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. 2021-11-18T11:59:49Z 2021-11-18T11:59:49Z 2018 Article 2158-2440 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2158244017750433 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4555 en SAGE Open January-March 2018: 1–10; open SAGE Publications Inc.
spellingShingle spirituality
war
trauma
coping
Zimbabwe
Mutambara, Julia
Sodi, Tholene
Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Coping With War Trauma Among War Veterans in Zimbabwe
title Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Coping With War Trauma Among War Veterans in Zimbabwe
title_full Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Coping With War Trauma Among War Veterans in Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Coping With War Trauma Among War Veterans in Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Coping With War Trauma Among War Veterans in Zimbabwe
title_short Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Coping With War Trauma Among War Veterans in Zimbabwe
title_sort exploring the role of spirituality in coping with war trauma among war veterans in zimbabwe
topic spirituality
war
trauma
coping
Zimbabwe
url https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2158244017750433
http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4555
work_keys_str_mv AT mutambarajulia exploringtheroleofspiritualityincopingwithwartraumaamongwarveteransinzimbabwe
AT soditholene exploringtheroleofspiritualityincopingwithwartraumaamongwarveteransinzimbabwe