Introduction: In recent years, mental health research has increasingly focused on the role of internal and meaning-making resources, including spirituality, in coping with life challenges. The present study aims to explore the lived experience of spirituality among university students facing psychosocial challenges.
Method: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach and descriptive phenomenological method to gain a deeper understanding of how spirituality is perceived, meaning is constructed, and spirituality is utilized within the context of student life. Participants included 16 undergraduate students from a non-profit university in Qom during the 2023-2024 academic year, selected through criterion-based purposive sampling. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and continued until data saturation was reached. Data analysis was performed using Colaizzi's analysis method and MAXQDA.20 software.
Findings: The findings revealed that students' experiences of spirituality in facing psychosocial challenges can be explained through three main themes. The first theme was spirituality as a source of psychological resilience, which included the sub-themes of spiritual hope, inner peace, and redefining life crises. The second theme was spirituality in the context of relationships and social support, referring to the role of spiritual interactions, purposeful dialogues, empathy, and a sense of social belonging in reducing psychological pressures. The third theme was spirituality as a mechanism for meaning-making in difficult experiences, encompassing sub-themes such as the search for meaning, rethinking personal values, restoring balance, positive interpretation of difficult events, and psychological growth after facing challenges.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that spirituality, beyond religious beliefs, acts as a meaning-making and supportive framework in students' lives. These findings can provide a basis for designing supportive interventions and promoting mental health in university settings.