Hope and Healing: The Role of Religious and Spiritual Coping in Pediatric Serious Illness and Injury

Objective: Compared to other types of coping in pediatric serious illness and injury, religious and spiritual coping is understudied, despite many children and families identifying religious and spiritual needs during the child’s medical journey. This topical review summarizes the religious/spiritual needs and coping of children and families impacted by pediatric serious illness and injury, proposes a call to action for future research, and discusses ways pediatric psychologists can partner with chaplains to advance spiritual care for patients and families. Methods: Searches were conducted on PubMed, PsychINFO, and Web of Science, using keywords such as religious/spiritual coping, pediatric palliative care, and specific pediatric illnesses/injuries/specialties (e.g., cancer, cystic fibrosis, NICU, and TBI). Thirty articles were identified across the time-span of 2000–2023. Results: Positive religious/spiritual coping was associated with outcomes such as improved quality of life, decreased psychological distress, and post-traumatic growth. Negative religious/spiritual coping was associated with increased psychological distress and clinical decline. Religious and spiritual coping practices varied by religious affiliation, degree of religiosity, phase of child’s treatment, child’s clinical status, accessibility of spiritual resources, and developmental differences. Conclusion: Religion and spirituality play an important role in coping with a child’s medical journey for family and children alike. More research is needed, particularly with other informants such as fathers and children, in addition to longitudinal methods. We conclude by providing recommendations to advance spiritual care for patients and families impacted by pediatric serious illness or injury with a focus on encouraging enhanced partnership between chaplains, religious community leaders, and pediatric psychologists.