RELIGIOUSNESS AND SPIRITUALITY IN COPING WITH A DISABILITY OF THE RELATIVES: QUALITATIVE STUDY

The diagnosis of disability is always a critical and negative life event both for individual and family members. In many cases, this leads to complex psychological problems. The aim of this research was to add more understanding of the domain by using a interactional ethnographic approach to learn do (and how) spirituality and religion help individuals impacted by the relative person’s disability survive and cope successfully with their lives in spite of overwhelming despair. Interactional ethnographic approach was chosen for this research. The results revealed that spirituality and religion help in creating emotinal well-being, in finding and keeping hope. They help to make sence of disability and accept the disability. While participating in religious communities adds much to the emotional well-being and gives support from the community.