Vyresnio amžiaus Romos katalikų tikėjimas: tipai, raiška gyvenimo eigoje ir jo reikšmė psichologiniam atsparumui
Abstract
Religious faith and its related psychological resilience are relevant issues in modern society,
science, and professional practice with older people. This thesis explores the religious (Roman
Catholic) faith of older people as a multicomponent phenomenon with developmental capacity
and its implications for psychological resilience. How do they believe in their course of life?
What types of religious faith are characterised by older people? How does their faith help individuals
remain psychologically resilient? This study used a qualitative research method and
case study strategy to find the answers. The data of the 7 study participants, older Roman Catholics,
were analyzed by three methods: thematic narrative, structural and content analysis.
The study’s analysis revealed that the family environment in early childhood created an early
positive relationship with the Roman Catholic faith, which in the later life made it possible to
develop different expressions: stable and wavering religious faith. These types of religious faith
are typical for older Roman Catholics: inherited, social and authentic. In the dissertation, the
author presents a research-based theoretical model of religious faith and psychological resilience
that integrates the resources of psychological resilience and the ways in which religious
faith strengthens internal psychological resilience: coping with crisis, enhancing well-being
and giving meaning to life.