The role of spirituality in identity after trauma: a scoping review of quantitative and qualitative evidence

Abstract

ABSTRACT This scoping review explored the relationship between spirituality and identity after trauma. Studies must have explored an aspect of spirituality and identity (e.g., personal, role, group). Trauma was defined by the DSM-5 PTSD Criterion A diagnostic criteria. Four databases were searched (n = 10,641 citations), resulting in 181 relevant publications (57 quantitative studies, 124 qualitative studies) that included 55,783 participants from 30 countries. Quantitative findings predominantly showed positive associations between different aspects of spirituality (e.g., religious beliefs/practices, spiritual wellbeing) and identity post-trauma. Thematic analysis of qualitative findings highlighted that: spirituality had helped people to construct a helpful personal identity; supported role identities; and contributed to coherence; and maintained religious identity post-trauma. However, in some cases, spirituality paradoxically contributed to an unhelpful identity after trauma, or led to the loss of a religious identity.