From Trauma to Self-Acceptance: A Phenomenological Study of the Spiritual Experiences of Landslide Survivors

Authors

  • Cintami Farmawati Universitas Islam Negeri K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan, Indonesia
  • Anizar Rahayu Universitas Persada Indonesia Y.A.I, Indonesia
  • Lily Mayawati Universitas Persada Indonesia Y.A.I, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47679/jopp.8113032026

Keywords:

Trauma, Self-Acceptance, Spiritual Experience, Religious Coping, Meaning Making

Abstract

Landslides cause multidimensional impacts, not only psychological but also social and spiritual. This study highlights the importance of understanding survivors’ journeys toward self-acceptance, considering the limited research that emphasizes the role of spirituality in trauma recovery within the religious-cultural context of Indonesia. The study proposes to understand and describe the spiritual experiences of landslide survivors as they journey from trauma to self-acceptance. Using a phenomenological approach, data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with survivors who experienced significant trauma. Thematic analysis was employed to capture psychological, social, and spiritual dynamics in participants lived experiences. The findings reveal that the survivors’ journey is transformative, characterized by phases of emotional turmoil, social disconnection, and eventually the search for new meaning through religious practices and spiritual coping. Spirituality emerged as the primary source of strength in fostering resilience and transforming suffering into post-traumatic growth. This study contributes theoretically by enriching disaster psychology literature with a focus on spirituality and meaning-making, methodologically by applying an in-depth phenomenological approach, and practically by providing a basis for developing locally grounded, spiritually oriented psychosocial interventions to support disaster survivors’ recovery.

Author Biographies

Cintami Farmawati, Universitas Islam Negeri K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan

Cintami Farmawati is a psychology lecturer at the State Islamic University K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan with a research focus on mental health, Islamic psychology, social psychology and psychotherapy.

Anizar Rahayu, Universitas Persada Indonesia Y.A.I

Anizar Rahayu is a psychology lecturer at the University of Persada Indonesia Y.A.I. with a specialization in developmental psychology and educational psychology.

Lily Mayawati, Universitas Persada Indonesia Y.A.I

Lily Mayawati is a psychology lecturer at the University of Persada Indonesia Y.A.I. with a specialization in developmental psychology and educational psychology.

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Published

2026-03-05

How to Cite

Farmawati, C., Rahayu, A., & Mayawati, L. (2026). From Trauma to Self-Acceptance: A Phenomenological Study of the Spiritual Experiences of Landslide Survivors. Journal of Psychological Perspective, 8(1), 53–62. https://doi.org/10.47679/jopp.8113032026

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Original Research Articles

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