Author Names: – Ashvin Govil, Shubham Gawali, Somya Bharadwaj, Pranjali Sharma, Diya Saini, Renu Nair, Jyotirmayee Rathore, Azra Rizvi, Bhumi Mankar, Divyansh Jain, Pratikhya Panda, Deepanshu Upadhyay
Date:- 29 September 2026
Abstract
Family caregivers of persons with severe mental illness (SMI) in India frequently employ religious and spiritual coping to manage caregiving burden, yet evidence remains dispersed across heterogeneous studies. This PRISMA 2020–compliant systematic review synthesised quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies published between January 2010 and July 2026, identified through searches in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Indian psychology/psychiatry journals. Of 1,247 records screened, 38 studies (N ≈ 3,950 caregivers) met inclusion criteria, covering schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other SMI across urban, rural, and tertiary-care settings. Thematic and narrative synthesis indicated that positive religious coping (e.g., benevolent reappraisal, collaborative coping, prayer, temple/church attendance, seeking support from religious leaders) was consistently associated with lower perceived burden, reduced psychological distress, and higher spiritual and mental well-being. Conversely, negative religious coping (e.g., spiritual punishment, interpersonal religious discontent) correlated with greater morbidity and maladaptive coping. Qualitative evidence highlighted religion-based explanatory models of illness, reliance on faith and traditional healers, and spiritual hope as central to resilience. Findings underscore religious and spiritual coping as culturally embedded, predominantly adaptive resources for Indian family caregivers, while also flagging risks when coping turns punitive or conflictual. Integrating spiritually sensitive assessments and interventions into mental health services may enhance caregiver support in India.
