Outcomes of Spiritual Health in Children: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Abstract

Background: The socio-cultural status of any society depends on the health of children. Enjoying spiritual health, as one of the important dimensions of health, plays an essential role in ensuring the comprehensive health of the child. This qualitative study was done to explore the consequences of spiritual health in Iranian children. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Participants included 17 children and 9 researchers and specialists in the field of children’s mental health. Data analysis was carried out using the qualitative content analysis approach developed by Graneheim and Lundman. Results: During the analysis of the text of the interviews, three themes of "psychological consequences" with three categories (mental vitality, mental growth, and cognitive growth), "socio-moral consequences" with two categories (ethical growth and social growth), and "religious-spiritual consequences" with two categories (religious behavior, religious transcendence) were obtained. Conclusion: The spiritual health in children helps them grow in all aspects, which indicates the capacity of spiritual health in children. It seems that focusing on moral-spiritual development in order to ensure the spiritual health of the child helps to prevent moral-behavioral disorders and provides the ground for excellence and meaningful growth. Therefore, considering the importance of having spiritual health in children, it is necessary for those in charge of education to implement and evaluate written and practical programs based on the consequences of spiritual health and in accordance with the family system, community, and school.