Mosque-Based Spiritual Rehabilitation Intervention Among Flood-Affected Individuals in Iran: A Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health
• Disaster Management

Background:

• Global natural disasters increasingly impact individuals' spiritual well-being.
• Neglecting spiritual health in disaster recovery can lead to prolonged negative consequences.
• Mosque-based interventions offer a culturally relevant approach to spiritual support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a mosque-based spiritual rehabilitation intervention.
• To assess the impact on the spiritual health of men affected by flooding.
• To explore the role of religious community leaders in disaster recovery.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled field trial involving 100 married men in Golestan, Iran.
• Intervention group received six facilitated group sessions focusing on spiritual rehabilitation.
• Spiritual health was measured using a standardized questionnaire before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement in spiritual health (increase of 24.9 units, P < 0.001).
• Multivariate analysis confirmed a significant positive effect of the intervention on spiritual health scores (β = 28.3, P < 0.001), adjusted for age and education.
• The study demonstrated the efficacy of community-based spiritual support in post-disaster settings.

Conclusions:

• Integrating spiritual rehabilitation programs into disaster management is crucial.
• Spiritual interventions should be led by counselors knowledgeable in the community's religious beliefs.
• Disaster managers and policymakers must develop guidelines and training for effective spiritual rehabilitation.