NOW IN PRINT: Findings from Virtual Chaplain Support Groups during Height of COVID-19

The Danielsen Institute’s research team partnered with The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab to pilot a virtual practice-based intervention for chaplains during the first eighteen months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected with overwhelming appreciation from participants for the space to be cared for after working long hours caring for others. Findings were virtually presented by lead author, Dr. Laura Captari, during the European Conference on Religion, Spirituality, and Health in Amsterdam (citation below). At the conference, Dr. Captari was also awarded the Young Researcher Award for her work on this project. The full article about this project is available in APA’s Psychological Services. You can access it here.

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, chaplains have played a pivotal role in patient, family member, and staff care. However, little empirical attention has been given to (a) the potential toll of frontline spiritual care on chaplains’ mental health and occupational functioning as well as (b) the development of interventions that can help ameliorate these risks and promote resilience. Using a mixed-method practice-based design, we conducted a pilot study (n = 77) to evaluate a novel spiritually integrated support group intervention for chaplains across multiple industries, which consisted of five Zoom-based sessions cofacilitated by psychotherapists. Participants completed pre- and postintervention measures of traumatic stress, burnout, spiritual/moral struggles, flourishing, resilience, and overall experience in the group. Qualitative findings elucidated the salience of peer support, therapeutic group processes, and key intervention components that warrant further study. Quantitative results indicated significant (a) decreases in burnout and spiritual/moral struggles from pre- to postintervention as well as (b) increases in sense of resilience and flourishing. Findings of this pilot study offer preliminary evidence for the use of a spiritually integrated group model to decrease isolation, address moral and spiritual distress, and promote resilience among chaplains. 

Journal citation

Captari, L.E., Hydinger, K.R., Sandage, S.J., Choe, E.J., Bronstein, M., Stavros, G.S., Shim, P., Kintanar, A.R., Cadge, W., & Rambo, S. (2022). Supporting chaplains on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed method practice-based pilot intervention study. Psychological Services. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ser0000692

Conference citation

Captari, L.E., Hydinger, K.R., Sandage, S.J., Choe, E.J., Bronstein, M., Stavros, G.S., Shim, P., Kintanar, A.R., Cadge, W., & Rambo, S. (2022, June). Supporting chaplains on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed method practice-based pilot intervention study. Poster presentation at the European Conference on Religion, Spirituality, and Health, Amsterdam.