Banca de DEFESA: JOAB GOMES DA SILVA SOUSA

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : JOAB GOMES DA SILVA SOUSA
DATE: 17/04/2026
TIME: 17:00
LOCAL: Google Meet
TITLE:

The experience of faith and its relationship with mental health: an ethnographic study in the Presbyterian Church of Brazil.

KEY WORDS:

Keywords: Mental Health; Religion; Nursing; Ethnography; Health Promotion
Model.

 

PAGES: 133
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Enfermagem
SUMMARY:

SOUSA, J. G. S. The experience of faith and its relationship with mental
health: an ethnographic study in the Presbyterian Church of Brazil. 2026.
133 p. Doctoral Thesis (PhD in Nursing in Health Care) – Center for Health
Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 2026.
Contemporary mental health is crossed by a multiplicity of factors that transcend
the biological, inserting themselves into the field of social determinants, where
religiosity and spirituality occupy a prominent place. This study investigates the
interface between the experience of faith and psychic balance in the context of the
Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB) in Várzea Alegre, Ceará. The central problem
lies in understanding how the dogmas, rites, and social support of a community of
Reformed tradition influence health promotion behaviors and coping strategies for
emotional adversity. To analyze the experience of faith and its relationship with
the mental health of IPB members. This is a qualitative study of an ethnographic
type. The research setting was the Presbyterian Church of Brazil in the
municipality of Várzea Alegre-CE. The participants were adult worshipers with
active participation in the community. Field immersion occurred throughout 2023
and 2024, using as collection techniques: participant observation, dense recording
in a field diary, and in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was
processed by the IRAMUTEQ software, which enabled Descending Hierarchical
Classification (DHC) and similarity analysis, providing statistical-lexical rigor to
the textual corpus. Subsequently, Bardin's Thematic Content Analysis was carried
out, interpreting the findings in light of Pender's framework. The study respected
the ethical standards of Resolution 466/2012 of the National Health Council.
Ethical Opinion: 8.049.475. The data revealed that the experience of faith in the
IPB of Várzea Alegre functions as a powerful emotional "anchor". The
organizational structure of the church, with its internal societies, provides robust
social support that mitigates feelings of loneliness and helplessness. The analysis
demonstrated that "Positive Religious Coping" is predominant, manifesting
through prayer, Bible study, and belief in divine sovereignty, which increases the
self-efficacy of the faithful in the face of crises. However, a critical category
emerged called "Doctrinal Barriers," where mental suffering is sometimes
interpreted as "spiritual weakness." This "Negative Religious Coping" generates
guilt and delays the search for psychologists or psychiatrists. The application of
Pender's model showed that although faith promotes interpersonal benefits,
perceived barriers (stigma) are still challenges for mental health literacy in the
community. It was observed that the typical rationality of Presbyterianism
facilitates dialogue with science but requires pastoral mediation to demystify
mental illness as something purely spiritual. thesis concludes that the experience
of faith is a structural pillar of mental health for IPB members, functioning as a
highly effective informal care technology. It was demonstrated that religiosity is
not merely a cultural accessory, but a social determinant that modulates health
behavior. For Nursing, the results reinforce the need to integrate spirituality into
nursing consultations and therapeutic plans, recognizing it as a resource for health
promotion.

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - GLAUBERTO DA SILVA QUIRINO
Presidente - 396864 - FRANCISCO ARNOLDO NUNES DE MIRANDA
Externo ao Programa - 1161810 - GILSON DE VASCONCELOS TORRES - nullInterna - 1054749 - MARIA ISABEL DA CONCEICAO DIAS FERNANDES
Externa à Instituição - ROMEIKA CARLA FERREIRA DE SENA