Transcending Chaos: Spirituality and Coping in Post-Earthquake Canterbury, New Zealand
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Lincoln University Digital Thesis Copyright Statement The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). This thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: you will use the copy only for the purposes of research or private study you will recognise the author's right to be identified as the author of the thesis and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate you will obtain the author's permission before publishing any material from the thesis. Transcending chaos: Spirituality and coping in post-earthquake Canterbury, New Zealand A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University by Susan Elizabeth Young Lincoln University 2020 Abstract of a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Abstract Transcending chaos: Spirituality and coping in post-earthquake Canterbury, New Zealand by Susan Elizabeth Young When an “I thought I was going to die quake” occurs amidst four additional major earthquakes and 15,000 aftershocks during a sixteen-month period, it challenges people’s ability to cope and recover. Residents of Canterbury, New Zealand endured this extended, chaotic state in 2010/11; and continue to deal with lingering effects on their devastated central city, Christchurch. Stress and coping theory suggests that finding meaning in such situations can help people recover, and that religion and spirituality often play a role in post- disaster resilience. Despite this, there is very little research literature examining this phenomenon and even less that considers spirituality separate from religion. This research focuses on this underrepresented area by considering the personal spiritual or meaningful experiences of people in post-earthquake Canterbury. Data from sixteen in-depth, minimally directed interviews were thematically analyzed to understand each individual’s meaning construction and coping/recovery process and identify connective themes and patterns amongst their experiences. Four core elements of acceptance, clarity and choice, connection, and transcendence emerged from the thematic analysis to conceptualize a model of transcendent coping. Transcendent coping represents an additional type of coping in the transactional model of stress and coping, which serves to support the previous denoted problem-, emotion-, and meaning-focused coping approaches. Transcendent coping offers openness, empowerment, comfort and expansion not necessarily reliant upon theistic or religious beliefs and practices. Rather, this secular spiritual coping is inherent in everyday, mundane practices such as being in the moment, aligning to and acting from personal ii values, connecting to that and those who bring comfort, and experiencing transcendence in moments of awe and expansion. This research contributes to the growing interest in spirituality as an important facet of human nature that can support wellbeing in the face of stress. Keywords: Earthquakes, Christchurch, Meaning, Coping, Spirituality, Transcendence, New Zealand, Stress. iii Acknowledgements It takes a village to raise a PhD thesis ... Google Scholar’s tag line “stand on the shoulders of giants” captures the respect I feel toward the wise scholars in my PhD village - both those I encountered in the literature, in my faculty, at conferences, and in my endlessly patient supervisors, Gary Steel and Kevin Moore. Special acknowledgement of Peter Bray and Diana Coholic for their insightful comments and direction on the final thesis. To be guided by the knowledge of all of these academics, as well as the participants in my study, makes me humble, and I thank you. Participating in this scholarly process has been a true gift, despite the challenges along the way. To the other villagers who guided and guarded me ... My Canadian family, Barb and Marion, in Saskatchewan; and, Denise, Linda, and Yvonne, in BC. Thank you for visiting when all our schedules allowed, and offering all manner of other support. Ron, you are my home and village wherever I am. To the Canterbury crew. Our enviable home ‘away’ is thanks to you, Helen and Denis, which has been a blissful anchor for us. Nola and David, your friendship over the years, and writing retreats with the late, great Sam, helped alot; as did the feline mental health practitioners in the Liffey Springs neighbourhood I shamelessly sought out during our evening walks. Thank you to the Forbes Five community - especially Ashley, Richard, Seonaid, Walter, and my PhD ‘Sisters’ - Sunny and Yaa; and all the others who commiserated, cried, and laughed with me along the way. Also the Ways of Wellness gang - Fiona, Jackie, Jayne, Kathy, and Zoe - my inspiring tribe; Caitriona and the team at LTL for their wonderful talent; Tracey, for all that she does; and Lucy, a friend for life. Finally, to the charming little campus at Lincoln University. Despite earthquake repairs and building construction, the joy of encountering amazing flowers, stately trees, and abundant birdsong, never failed to lift my spirits. It is on that uplifted note, I wish to dedicate this work to all those coping with trauma, in particular, the Muslim community in Christchurch. The beautiful souls who died in the mosque shootings on March 15, 2019, while lovingly participating in their community, are angels of light. The world does not remember the hateful violence of that day - it embraces the love that resulted. iv Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iv Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ v List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Context .................................................................................................................................... 2 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence .............................................................................. 2 Extreme and Unusual Environments .......................................................................... 6 Research Aim and Questions ................................................................................................... 8 Research Approach ................................................................................................................. 8 Organization of the Thesis ....................................................................................................... 8 Personal Reflection ................................................................................................................. 9 Chapter 2 Literature Review ..................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Spirituality ............................................................................................................................. 11 2.1.1 From Religion to Spirituality ......................................................................................... 12 2.1.2 From Spirituality to Transcendence ............................................................................. 13 2.1.3 Types of Spiritual Experiences ...................................................................................... 16 2.2 Contemporary Psychology .................................................................................................... 18 2.2.1 From Peaks to Plateaus and Flow ................................................................................. 19 2.2.2 Positive Psychology and Character Strengths .............................................................. 20 2.2.3 Other Relevant Theories .............................................................................................. 21 2.3 Stress and Coping .................................................................................................................. 25 2.3.1 The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping ............................................................ 25 2.3.2 Spiritual Framework of Coping ..................................................................................... 26 2.3.3 Meaning-Focused Coping and Spirituality After Disasters ........................................... 28 2.4 Summary ............................................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 3 Methodology ........................................................................................................... 31 3.1 Qualitative Research ............................................................................................................. 31 3.1.1 Quality Criteria ......................................................................................................... 34 3.1.2 Researcher