Lived Experiences of Interpersonal Trauma and Spiritual Coping among Adolescents: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study

Background: Adolescents subjected to interpersonal trauma, such as
bullying, familial discord, emotional neglect, and relational betrayal, face an
increased vulnerability to social anxiety and reduced self-esteem. Previous
research has thoroughly investigated the psychological effects of trauma;
however, there is a paucity of studies examining how adolescents employ
spiritual coping as a mechanism for meaning-making following interpersonal
trauma. This study sought to examine the lived experiences of interpersonal
trauma and the function of spiritual coping in adolescent psychological
adaptation.
Methods: This qualitative study utilized a transcendental phenomenological
design in accordance with Moustakas’ methodology. The study took place in
Indonesia and included 15 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years who had
undergone interpersonal trauma. Participants were selected via purposive
sampling through educational and community networks. Data were gathered
via comprehensive semi-structured interviews and analyzed through epoche,
horizontalization, clustering of meaning units, and the formulation of textural
and structural descriptions to delineate the phenomenon's fundamental
structure.
Result: Four key themes emerged: compromised relational safety,
internalized self-blame and emotional silence, social withdrawal coupled with
increased social anxiety, and spiritual coping as a transformative resource.
Spiritual coping served as a reflective and emotionally regulating
environment that facilitated participants in reinterpreting traumatic
experiences, reconstructing self-worth, and progressively restoring
psychological stability.
Conclusion: Incorporating spiritual dimensions into trauma-informed mental
health interventions may improve culturally sensitive and developmentally
suitable support strategies for adolescents.