Comparison of the effectiveness of grief counseling and god-oriented spiritual counseling on death anxiety and perceived spirituality in individuals with COVID-19 grief

Soheila Panahi; Robabeh Ataeifar; Maryam Bahrami-Heideji; Nahid Havasi-Somar; Biuk Tajeri

doi:10.22122/cdj.v11i1.751

Authors

Soheila Panahi Department of Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1198-2391
Robabeh Ataeifar Department of Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6865-4842
Maryam Bahrami-Heideji Department of Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5560-5718
Nahid Havasi-Somar Department of Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6482-4629
Biuk Tajeri Department of Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9575-9236

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22122/cdj.v11i1.751

Keywords:

God-Oriented Spiritual Counseling, Death Anxiety, Perceived Spirituality

Abstract

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, grief and bereavement have been the most prevalent psychological problems experienced. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of grief counseling and God-oriented spiritual counseling on death anxiety and spirituality in people with COVID-19 grief.

METHODS: The present quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design, a control group, and follow-up. The population consisted of all inhabitants of‎ Shahr-e-Rey who had lost a member of their family due to COVID-19 in 2021. Participants (n = 51) were selected through purposive sampling based on their acceptance to participate in the study and the inclusion criteria, and were randomly assigned to 2 experimental groups (n = 34) and 1 control group (n = 17). Data were collected using Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale‎ (DAS) and the Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS) ‎in the pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software using repeated measures ANOVA.

RESULTS: The results showed that both methods of intervention were effective in reducing death anxiety and increasing perceived spirituality. However, God-oriented spiritual counseling was more effective in reducing death anxiety and increasing perceived spirituality compared to grief counseling (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The results strongly support the effectiveness of grief counseling and God-oriented spiritual counseling on death anxiety and perceived spirituality. Policymakers and mental health experts can use both counseling approaches (based on cognitive-behavioral therapy and complex bereavement therapy) in designing individual and community-oriented interventions related to bereavement, provided they pay attention to the needs of the target community.

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Comparison of the effectiveness of grief counseling and god-oriented spiritual counseling on death anxiety and perceived spirituality in individuals with COVID-19 grief

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