Spirituality in the Context of Parenthood: A Phenomenological Approach

Spirituality in the Context of Parenthood: A Phenomenological Approach Rachel L. Hedrick Integrating the study of spirituality and religion is of value to the field of psychology because spirituality and religion play such an important role in the lives of many Americans (Pargament, 1999). The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore common themes emerging from lived experiences of spirituality through the lens of parenthood. In order to more fully capture the spirituality of parents, and because there are few studies exploring spirituality in parenthood in the literature, a phenomenological inquiry of parents' spiritual experience was used. Given the intricacies of parenthood, what are the experiences of parents' spirituality? A modified van Kaam method by Moustakas (1994) with semi-structured interviews was employed to explore the lived experiences of 10 parents from the Chicagoland area. The data obtained from the interviews suggest that several parents experienced an increased depth in their spirituality since becoming a parent. Further, several parents reported an increased dependence on, or need for there to be a God. Participants indicated that their love for their child has impacted their relationship with, and understanding of, God. The results from this study support the notion that the spirituality of parents is influenced by both the process of becoming a parent, and communicating with ones child, thus providing support for the notion that parent-child communication about religion is reciprocal and bilateral with mutual influence. The results from this study may inform mental health professionals, the public, and religious organizations about how religion and spirituality can be used in family work, such as in prevention and intervention. Keywords: spirituality; religion; parent; family.