The influence of spirituality on the transition to parenthood: a scoping review

Abstract

Objectives:  to understand the influence of the spirituality experience on the process of transition to parenthood in women.

Methods:  a scoping review was carried out according to the assumptions of the Joanna Briggs Institute. The Elton Bryson Stephens Company Host (EBSCOhost) platform was used to search for articles. The search expression was composed of the following descriptors: (wom* OR puerp* OR mother* OR postpartum) AND (parent* OR matern* OR adjustm* OR transit) AND (Spirit*). The process of data analysis, extraction and synthesis was carried out independent reviewers in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA).

Results:  spirituality influences women’s health and quality of life in the challenges inherent to the process of transition to parenthood. For this transactional process, it is important that health professionals implement interventions capable of making an effective impact on women’s bio-psychosocial and spiritual health, on the quality of their social interactions and on the mother-infant bond.

Conclusions:  spirituality promotes a positive transition to parenthood and the experience of positive parenting in the short, medium and long term.

Key words:
Parenting; Transition; Spirituality; Woman; Review