Religious Coping Perempuan Kepala Keluarga Muslim Pasca-Kematian Suami dalam Menghadapi Tantangan Kehidupan

Female-headed households face various pressures related to the loss of a spouse, family economic sustainability, and responsibilities toward children. In such circumstances, religion can serve as a resource for coping with and making sense of life difficulties. This study aims to analyze religious coping among female heads of households using Pargament’s Religious Coping Theory. A qualitative case study approach was employed, involving six female heads of households from low-income families who participated in a support community for orphan families in Bandung, Indonesia. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and thematically analyzed using three religious coping methods: benevolent religious reappraisal, collaborative religious coping, and seeking support from clergy or members. The findings indicate that religious coping operates as an interconnected process. Participants made sense of difficulties through beliefs in divine wisdom and assistance, sustained their efforts through a combination of tawakal (reliance on God) and ikhtiyar (practical effort), and accessed support through religious networks. Such support included emotional assistance, employment information, food aid, scholarships, and social opportunities. The findings demonstrate a predominance of positive religious coping, highlighting religion as a source of meaning, motivation for action, and access to social support among female heads of households.