Acta Scientific MEDICAL SCIENCES (ISSN: 2582-0931)
Volume 5 Issue 9 September 2021
The Effect of Spirituality on Adjustment to Chronic Disease
during the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)
Reza Pourhosein*
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
*Corresponding Author: Reza Pourhosein, Associate Professor, Department of
Psychology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Review Article
Received: June 29, 2021
Published: August 16, 2021
© All rights are reserved by Reza
Pourhosein.
Abstract
Adjustment to chronic diseases is a fundamental strategy for patients' greater satisfaction with individual and social life, as well
as to improve their level of performance and efficiency. In addition to causing biological disorders, these diseases cause problems
and mental disorders for patients that reduce their resilience in life. Adaptation to chronic illness reduces abnormal psychological
outcomes and increases their life satisfaction. Anxiety, stress and depression caused by chronic diseases in the context of the global
corona outbreak, due to the frightening and mysterious nature of the virus, and its high mortality rate, have been added to the anxi-
ety caused by chronic disease. Therefore, in order to adapt to chronic diseases in pandemic conditions, more efforts are needed and
it is necessary to revise the traditional protocols and adapt them to the current conditions. Among the factors that are effective in
reducing the psychological consequences of chronic diseases, spirituality plays an important role, which is described in this article.
Keywords: Chronic Illness; Spirituality; Adaptation; Covid 19
Introduction
Chronic diseases are associated with the patient for a long time
and affect his personal and social life as well as his performance
[1]. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, major depression, MS, cancer
and lung disease are examples of chronic diseases. In addition to
their biological effects, these diseases also cause psychological dis-
orders that lead to a decrease in a person's positive performance.
Depression, stress, generalized anxiety disorder, death anxiety
and mood disorders are some of the psychological consequences
of chronic illness. These conditions are seen in most patients with
chronic disease [2].
Corona virus release
At the end of 2020, the world witnessed the emergence of a
terrifying and anxious virus that infected millions, killing many
people. The moment-to-moment coverage of the virus by the me-
dia, as well as the anxiety caused by its mystery, caused millions of
people to experience stress, acute anxiety and death anxiety. This
anxiety is for chronic patients who have an underlying disease for
Covid 19; It was doubled. In fact, adapting to chronic diseases in
the face of a coronavirus outbreak is more difficult than adapting to
chronic diseases under normal circumstances [3]. For this reason,
common protocols and coping strategies with these diseases need
to be changed and revised in the new context.
Adjustment to chronic disease
One of the strategies to deal with chronic illness that leads to ad-
justment to a new situation and increases his level of performance
is adaptation to chronic illness [4]. In the psychological literature,
compromise is relative. The relativity of compatibility is realistic.
Citation: Reza Pourhosein. “The Effect of Spirituality on Adjustment to Chronic Disease during the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Acta Scientific
Medical Sciences 5.9 (2021): 68-70.