Spirituality and religiosity in children, adolescents and their families in a vulnerable context: a scoping review.
Marcela Teixeira de Souza, Layane Cristina Araújo, Alexandre Ernesto Silva and 2 others
PMID 39607195WHAT IT FOUND
Included studies described spirituality and religiosity as sources of resilience, comfort and coping for children, adolescents and families in vulnerable settings.
This maps associations, not tested care outcomes.
Key findings
01The review mapped 22 included texts about spirituality or religiosity among children, adolescents and families in vulnerable contexts.
02Included studies reported spirituality and religiosity as linked to resilience, coping, purpose, distress regulation and lower depressive symptoms.
03A controlled randomized study reported that family members may not share spiritual beliefs with adolescents with cancer and may be unaware of their importance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The authors state the number of databases searched may have limited access to other data. Only one Brazilian study was included, and the authors note few Latin American studies. This is a scoping review that maps evidence, not a trial or meta-analysis, so it cannot show that spiritual or religious care causes benefit. Many included studies were descriptive or observational, so they report associations rather than tested effects.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that spiritual or religious care improves child or family outcomes. The review maps associations from included studies, not tested treatment effects.