The role of spiritual support in unintended pregnancies

The aim of this study is to investigate the experiences of women who have an unintended pregnancy during their pregnancies with their spiritual and psychological aspects, to examine the ways of making sense and interpreting pregnancy and motherhood, to find out what kind of support they receive from their environment, and what their expectations are, trying to determine the nature of the need for spiritual support in the transition from unplanned pregnancy to motherhood, it is to approach this vital period in a holistic way and to present an original study that indicates the role of spiritual support in unplanned pregnancies. In the research method of the study, qualitative method was adopted in order to understand the feelings and thoughts of pregnant women more deeply and to provide more comprehensive data to spiritual support specialists. The phenomenological model, one of the research patterns and the snowball sampling method, which is one of the purposeful sampling methods, were used. The sample of the study consisted of 25 women who were selected by considering their convenience level and experienced an unintended pregnancy. A semi-structured interview protocol was applied with the in-depth interview technique, and the data obtained were tried to be analyzed by descriptive analysis and content analysis. As a result of the research, it has been determined that women who have unplanned pregnancy experience emotional intensity in pregnancy processes, they use religious and spiritual coping methods to combat it, and they need to take spiritual support from both family and social circles and professionals. In the light of the findings obtained, opinions and suggestions were presented to the families and the environment of individuals who had unplanned pregnancy, to institutions that can provide services in this regard, to academic studies that will handle from different angles and for spiritual support specialists. Key Words: Psychology of Religion, Pregnancy, Unintended Pregnancy, Spiritual Support, Religious Coping, Psychological Resilience.