Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia
Vol. 30, No. 2

A Psycho-Spiritual Transformation in COVID-19 Crisis Narratives: A Comparative Study in Indonesia and Pakistan

Prakosa, Heru (Unknown)
Widyarini, Nurlaela (Unknown)
Utama, Johanes Seno Aditya (Unknown)
Carlos, Juan (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
22 May 2026

Abstract

Although the COVID-19 pandemic ended as a global health emergency, its psychosocial legacy persists in many communities. This study examines how religion and spirituality support recovery in Indonesia and Pakistan by shaping crisis narratives. Faith-based language is treated as psychosocial data and interpreted through its functions in meaning-making, emotion regulation, social connection, value anchoring, and action commitment using Psycho-Spiritual Transformation (PST) as a guiding framework. Open-ended responses were collected from 274 participants via an online survey in July 2021 (Indonesia n = 236; Pakistan n = 38). Across both contexts, narratives typically moved from pressure and inner conflict toward spiritual and relational reassurance and then toward renewed ethical orientation and practical commitments, including prosocial intentions and health-protective behaviors. The overall pattern was broadly similar across these two countries, indicating a shared faith-based meaning reconstruction grammar in highly religious societies. However, the Indonesian narratives more often combined diverse coping elements and translated faith into practical commitments, whereas the Pakistani narratives more strongly emphasized spiritual and relational reassurance. The findings highlight PST as a useful lens for distinguishing supportive faith discourse from forms of resignation that may hinder adaptive coping.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

publication:hubsasia

Publisher

Subject

Description

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia or Makara Hubs-Asia is a regional journal that seeks to advance understanding of human behavior in the context of Asia through the publication of empirical research articles that may stimulate further research. The word Makara symbolizes the emblem of the ...