Transforming suffering through faith: A phenomenological exploration of spiritual hope among parents of children with disabilities

Le résumé fourni par la source

Caring for a child with disability challenges parents’ emotional, existential, and spiritual worlds. Yet, within this struggle, many parents draw on faith-based resources that transform suffering into meaning and sustain hope. This study explored how spirituality and trust in God shape parents’ experiences and decisions regarding family life and future childbearing. A qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological design guided by Van Manen’s approach was used. Eighteen parents of children with chronic disabilities were purposively sampled from a pediatric referral center. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews explored participants’ perceptions of faith, hope, and divine trust in relation to their parenting experiences. Data were analyzed using Van Manen’s six-step interpretive framework with MAXQDA v21. Trustworthiness was ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, and audit trails. Five interrelated themes captured the spiritual dimensions of parental coping and meaning-making: (1) Reinterpreting suffering as a divine test or blessing ; (2) Embodied spiritual practices—prayer , pilgrimage , scripture reading—as sources of hope and regulation ; (3) Spiritual transformation and renewed purpose enabling forward-oriented decisions ; (4) Communal and pastoral supports that institutionalize spiritual resilience ; and (5) Tensions between faith-based trust and pragmatic fear . Spirituality was not acquiescence but a constant active process of reframing, emotional regulation, and ethical strength. Hope and faith interacted to foster psychological resilience and future orientation in life, sometimes guiding decision-making for future childbearing under adversity. Spiritual faith and hope in God are dynamic psychosocial resources that allow parents to transform suffering into meaning, sustain caregiving, and manage difficult life choices. Incorporating spiritual evaluation and pastoral collaboration within pediatric and family care can cement supportive care for families of disabled children.

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