Abstract
While the beneficial effects on mental health of spirituality and creativity as separate entities have been well documented, little attention has been given to the interactive effect of the two constructs in coping. Recently, the theory of transformative coping and associated Transformative Coping Model have been developed and examined from both theoretical and quantitative perspectives. To extend this work, the present study critically examined the theory of transformative coping and associated Transformative Coping Model from a qualitative perspective. Ten interviews were conducted among Northern Irish and Irish artists, contemplative prayer group members, and mental health service users. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The results showed that the majority of participants had experienced stress and trauma, and have suffered mental ill-health as a consequence. Most defined themselves as both creative and spiritual, and resorted to a spiritual attitude along with creative expression in order to cope with traumatic events and ongoing stressful situations. Most participants believed that their creativity was rooted in their spirituality and that the application of both helped them to transform negative emotional states into positive ones. This, in turn, gave them increased resilience to and a different perspective of stressful events, which aided and improved their coping skills throughout the lifespan.
Highlights
To facilitate the understanding and promotion of transformative coping, it is necessary that its components and their mutual association are explained
Creativity and spirituality were used in coping, with six participants applying a combination of both capacities as a coping strategy
The following quotes and interpretations illustrate the lived experience of transformative coping and demonstrate what it means to the participants to apply creative and spiritual coping
Summary
To facilitate the understanding and promotion of transformative coping, it is necessary that its components and their mutual association are explained. Eminent artists (e.g., [1,2]) and scientists (e.g., [3,4,5]) saw creativity and spirituality intrinsically linked in as much as creativity is understood as an aspect of spirituality. The TTC is based on the premise that both creativity and spirituality are aspects and expressions of the human spirit (e.g., [3,7]) and are connected (e.g., [1,2]). Coleman [3] and Jacobs [8] explained that creativity and spirituality mutually affect one another, and Bray [9] saw creative expression as an important step in the psycho-spiritual transformation of individuals
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