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.