Inner Peace in a Global Crisis: A Case Study of Supported Spiritual Individuation in Acute Onset Phase of COVID-19

Abstract

Emerging-adult undergraduates (ages 18–25) are at increased risk for mental illness, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, emerging adults face developmental tasks including identity development, finding meaning and purpose, and spiritual individuation. A case study approach is used to elucidate processes of undergraduates coping with collective trauma as a potential pathway to trauma-related spiritual growth via Awakened Awareness for Adolescents (AA-A) and emerging adults, a spiritual-mind-body wellness intervention. Awakened Awareness for Adolescents fosters enhanced spiritual perception to support spiritual individuation for improved mental health and well-being. Processes of spiritual individuation supported by AA-A during the COVID-19 pandemic from February to May 2020 are presented using students’ qualitative data and self-report measures of psychopathology, spiritual well-being, emotional regulation, and cognition. Shared cohort ( N = 15) themes and one in-depth case (1) reveal ideographic processes of personal transformation and spiritual growth, (2) generate hypotheses around pathways of trauma-related spiritual growth and spiritual individuation for future research.