A Cross-Sectional Survey on the Relationship Between Spirituality and Posttraumatic Growth During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation and Self-Compassion

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to potential positive outcomes following exposure to trauma and may have been experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study investigated the mediating role of emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal) and self-compassion in the relationship between spirituality and PTG. The sample comprised 700 patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized during their illness at Hazrat-Rasoul Hospital in Tehran, Iran (395 males, mean age = 52 years, SD = 14, age range = 14–95 years). Data were collected using a questionnaire packet that included the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Structural equation modelling analysis supported the proposed model which indicated that spirituality both directly and indirectly associated with PTG through emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal) and self-compassion. To test the indirect effects, bootstrap analysis was conducted with a 95% confidence interval and 5000 sample replacements. The results showed that spirituality influenced PTG through emotion regulation and self-compassion. The findings suggest that attention to these factors is crucial in facilitating the path to PTG.