Peer Specialists in Psychiatric Hospitals: Leveraging Spirituality and Emotional Intelligence During the COVID-19 Era
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study explored how peer specialists utilized spirituality and emotional intelligence in their work with psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven peer specialists participated in semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed that, despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic, they drew on spirituality and emotional intelligence to support both patients and staff. These qualities were found to be crucial for coping with emotional difficulties, addressing heightened stress, and promoting recovery in a time of global crisis. However, the study underscores the need for targeted training to enhance peer specialists' capacity in these areas, particularly during periods of heightened strain. The results suggest that integrating spirituality and emotional intelligence into practice can significantly improve the quality of support in psychiatric settings, especially in times of crisis.
Keywords:
peer specialists, spirituality, emotional intelligence, recovery, psychiatric facilities, COVID-19 pandemic
Article Details
How to Cite
HAZAN-LIRAN, Batel; WALTER, Ofra.
Peer Specialists in Psychiatric Hospitals: Leveraging Spirituality and Emotional Intelligence During the COVID-19 Era.
Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 13, n. 2, feb. 2025.
ISSN 2375-1924.
Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/6267>. Date accessed: 16 mar. 2025.
doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v13i2.6267.
Section
Research Articles
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
References
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14. Gillard S, Holley J, Gibson S, et al. Introducing new peer worker roles into mental health services in England: Comparative case study research across a range of organisational contexts. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2015;42(6):682-694. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-014-0603-z
15. Gillard S, Foster R, Gibson S, Goldsmith L, Marks J, White S. Describing a principles-based approach to developing and evaluating peer worker roles as peer support moves into mainstream mental health services. Ment Health Soc Incl. 2017;21(3):133-143. https://doi.org /10.1108/MHSI-03-2017-0016
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17. Wogrin C, Willis N, Mutsinze A, et al. It helps to talk: A guiding framework (TRUST) for peer support in delivering mental health care for adolescents living with HIV. PloS One. 2021;16(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248018
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20. Cherniss C. Emotional intelligence: Toward clarification of a concept. Ind Organ Psychol. 2010;3(2):110-126. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-9434.2010.01231.x
21. Mayer JD, Caruso DR, Salovey P. The ability model of emotional intelligence: Principles and updates. Emot Rev. 2016;8(4):290-300. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1177/1754073916639
22. Sanchez-Gomez M, Sadovyy M, Breso E. Health-care professionals amid the COVID-19 pandemic: How emotional intelligence may enhance work performance Traversing the mediating role of work engagement. J Clin Med. 2021;10(18):4077. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10184077
23. Limonero JT, Fernández-Castro J, Soler-Oritja J, Álvarez-Moleiro M. Emotional intelligence and recovering from induced negative emotional state. Front Psychol. 2015;6:816. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00816
24. Gray B, Sisto M. Peer support work in hospital: A first person and lived experience guide. Schizophr Bull Open. 2023;5(1):sgad035. doi:10.1093/schizbullopen/sgad035
25. Christianson KL. Emotional intelligence and critical thinking in nursing students: Integrative review of literature. Nurse Educ. 2020;45(6):62-65. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000000801
26. Michelangelo L. The overall impact of emotional intelligence on nursing students and nursing. Asia-Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2015;2(2):118. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.4103/2347-5625.157596
27. Gall TL, Malette J, Guirguis-Younger M. Spirituality and religiousness: A diversity of definitions. J Spirit Ment Health.2011;13(3):158-181. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1080/19349637.2011.593404
28. Upenieks L. Religious/spiritual struggles and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: Does ‘talking religion’ help or hurt? Rev Relig Res. 2022;64(2):249-278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13644-022-00487-0
29. Elias S, Cole B, Wilson-Jones L. Leadership and spirituality: conceptualization, definition and future directions in higher education. J Res Initiat. 2018;3(3):1-11. https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/jri/vol3/iss3/3
30. Harris S. The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason. WW Norton & Company;2005.
31. Mayseless O, ed. Parenting Representations: Theory, Research, and Clinical Implications. Cambridge University Press;2006.
32. Ten Kate J, de Koster W, van der Waal J. The effect of religiosity on life satisfaction in a secularized context: Assessing the relevance of believing and belonging. Rev Relig Res. 2017;59(2):135-155. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1007/s13644-016-0282-1
33. Galanter M, Hansen H, Potenza MN. The role of spirituality in addiction medicine: A position statement from the spirituality interest group of the international society of addiction medicine. Subst Abuse. 2021;42(3):269-271. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1080/08897077.2021.1941514
34. Wood L, Alsawy S. Recovery in psychosis from a service user perspective: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of current qualitative evidence. Community Ment Health J. 2018;54(6):793-804. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1007/s10597-017-0185-9
35. De Ruysscher C, Vandevelde S, Vanderplasschen W, De Maeyer J, Vanheule S. The concept of recovery as experienced by persons with dual diagnosis: A systematic review of qualitative research from a first-person perspective. J Dual Diagn. 2017;13(4):264-279. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1080/15504263.2017.1349977
36. Salzer MS, Rogers J, Salandra N, et al. Effectiveness of peer-delivered Center for Independent Living supports for individuals with psychiatric disabilities: A randomized, controlled trial. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2016;39(3):239-247. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000220
37. Walter O, Thomas EC, Salzer MS. Exploring peer specialists’ experiences with spirituality in their work: Recommendations for future directions. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2021;45(1):95-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/prj0000495
38. Smith JA. Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Getting at lived experience. The J Posit Psychol. 2017;12(3):303-304.
39. Mead S, MacNeil C. Peer support: What makes it unique. Int J Psychosoc Rehabil. 2006;10(2): 29-37.
40. Thoits PA. Motivations for peer-support volunteering: Social identities and role-identities as sources of motivation. Nonprofit Volunt Sect Q. 2021;50(4):797-815.
41. Baetz M, Griffin R, Bowen R, Koenig HG, Marcoux E. The association between spiritual and religious involvement and depressive symptoms in a Canadian population. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2004;192(12):818-822.
42. Curlin FA, Sellergren SA, Lantos JD, Chin MH. Physicians' observations and interpretations of the influence of religion and spirituality on health. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(7):649-654.
43. Jawaid H. Assessing perception of patients and physicians regarding spirituality in Karachi, Pakistan: A pilot study. Perm J. 2020;24(19):214. https://doi.org/10.7812/tpp/19.214
44. Longo DA, Peterson SM. The role of spirituality in psychosocial rehabilitation. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2002;25(4):333-340. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/h0095004
45. Wright AC, Kritikos K, Bhiku K, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on peer specialists. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2022;45(3):201–211. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000517
46. Suresh R, Alam A, Karkossa Z. Using peer support to strengthen mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A review. Front Psychiatry, 2021;12:714181. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.714181
47. Persich MR, Smith R, Cloonan S, Woods‐Lubbert R, Strong M, Killgore WDS. Emotional intelligence training as a protective factor for mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Depress Anxiety. 2021;38(10):1018–1025. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.23202
2. Solomon P. Peer support/peer provided services underlying processes, benefits, and critical ingredients. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2004;27(4):392. https://psycnet-apa-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/doi/10.2975/27.2004.392.401
3. Halperin H, Bandas-Yaakov A, Arye Y. Peer specialists in psychiatric hospitals. National Insurance Institute;2021. https://www.btl.gov.il/Publications/Special_Activities_publications/Documents/mifal_176.pdf
4. Gangi L. A lifetime of recovery: Spirituality groups on an acute inpatient psychiatry unit. J Pastoral Care Counsel. 2014;68(2):1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/154230501406800203
5. Post BC, Wade NG. Religion and spirituality in psychotherapy: A practice‐friendly review of research. J Clin Psychol. 2009;65(2):131-146. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20563
6. Smith TE, Abraham M, Bivona M, Brakman MJ, Brown IS, Enders G, Goodman S, McNabb L, Swinford JW. ‘Just be a light’: Experiences of peers working on acute inpatient psychiatric units. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2017;40(4):387. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/prj0000224
7. Walter O, Hazan-Liran B. Personal well-being and recovery in peer support specialists working at psychiatric hospitals. Am J Health Behav. 2023;47(3):539-548. https://doi.org/10.5993/ajhb.47.3.11
8. Moreno C, Wykes T, Galderisi S, et al. How mental health care should change as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(9):813-824. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30307-2
9. Daniels AS, Bergeson S, Myrick KJ. Defining peer roles and status among community health workers and peer support specialists in integrated systems of care. Psychiatr Serv. 2017;68(12):1296-1298. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1176/appi.ps.201600378
10. Jacobson N, Trojanowski L, Dewa CS. What do peer support workers do? A job description. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012;12(1):1-11. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1186/1472-6963-12-205
11. Keyes SE, Clarke CL, Wilkinson H, et al. ‘We’re all thrown in the same boat’: A qualitative analysis of peer support in dementia care. Dementia. 2016;15(4):560-577. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301214529575
12. Fuhr DC, Salisbury TT, De Silva MJ, et al. Effectiveness of peer-delivered interventions for severe mental illness and depression on clinical and psychosocial outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2014;49(11):1691-1702. https://doi.org /10.1007/s00127-014-0857-5
13. Repper J, Carter T. A review of the literature on peer support in mental health services. J Ment Health. 2011;20(4):392-411. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.3109/09638237.2011.583947
14. Gillard S, Holley J, Gibson S, et al. Introducing new peer worker roles into mental health services in England: Comparative case study research across a range of organisational contexts. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2015;42(6):682-694. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-014-0603-z
15. Gillard S, Foster R, Gibson S, Goldsmith L, Marks J, White S. Describing a principles-based approach to developing and evaluating peer worker roles as peer support moves into mainstream mental health services. Ment Health Soc Incl. 2017;21(3):133-143. https://doi.org /10.1108/MHSI-03-2017-0016
16. Walker G, Bryant W. Peer support in adult mental health services: A metasynthesis of qualitative findings. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2013;36(1):28. https://psycnet-apa-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/doi/10.1037/h0094744
17. Wogrin C, Willis N, Mutsinze A, et al. It helps to talk: A guiding framework (TRUST) for peer support in delivering mental health care for adolescents living with HIV. PloS One. 2021;16(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248018
18. Adams WE. Unintended consequences of institutionalizing peer support work in mental healthcare. Soc Sci Med. 2020;262:113-249. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113249
19. Mayer JD, Salovey P, Caruso DR. Emotional intelligence: New ability or eclectic traits? Am Psychol. 2008;63(6):503. https://psycnet-apa-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/doi/10.1037/0003-066X.63.6.503
20. Cherniss C. Emotional intelligence: Toward clarification of a concept. Ind Organ Psychol. 2010;3(2):110-126. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-9434.2010.01231.x
21. Mayer JD, Caruso DR, Salovey P. The ability model of emotional intelligence: Principles and updates. Emot Rev. 2016;8(4):290-300. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1177/1754073916639
22. Sanchez-Gomez M, Sadovyy M, Breso E. Health-care professionals amid the COVID-19 pandemic: How emotional intelligence may enhance work performance Traversing the mediating role of work engagement. J Clin Med. 2021;10(18):4077. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10184077
23. Limonero JT, Fernández-Castro J, Soler-Oritja J, Álvarez-Moleiro M. Emotional intelligence and recovering from induced negative emotional state. Front Psychol. 2015;6:816. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00816
24. Gray B, Sisto M. Peer support work in hospital: A first person and lived experience guide. Schizophr Bull Open. 2023;5(1):sgad035. doi:10.1093/schizbullopen/sgad035
25. Christianson KL. Emotional intelligence and critical thinking in nursing students: Integrative review of literature. Nurse Educ. 2020;45(6):62-65. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000000801
26. Michelangelo L. The overall impact of emotional intelligence on nursing students and nursing. Asia-Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2015;2(2):118. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.4103/2347-5625.157596
27. Gall TL, Malette J, Guirguis-Younger M. Spirituality and religiousness: A diversity of definitions. J Spirit Ment Health.2011;13(3):158-181. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1080/19349637.2011.593404
28. Upenieks L. Religious/spiritual struggles and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: Does ‘talking religion’ help or hurt? Rev Relig Res. 2022;64(2):249-278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13644-022-00487-0
29. Elias S, Cole B, Wilson-Jones L. Leadership and spirituality: conceptualization, definition and future directions in higher education. J Res Initiat. 2018;3(3):1-11. https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/jri/vol3/iss3/3
30. Harris S. The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason. WW Norton & Company;2005.
31. Mayseless O, ed. Parenting Representations: Theory, Research, and Clinical Implications. Cambridge University Press;2006.
32. Ten Kate J, de Koster W, van der Waal J. The effect of religiosity on life satisfaction in a secularized context: Assessing the relevance of believing and belonging. Rev Relig Res. 2017;59(2):135-155. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1007/s13644-016-0282-1
33. Galanter M, Hansen H, Potenza MN. The role of spirituality in addiction medicine: A position statement from the spirituality interest group of the international society of addiction medicine. Subst Abuse. 2021;42(3):269-271. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1080/08897077.2021.1941514
34. Wood L, Alsawy S. Recovery in psychosis from a service user perspective: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of current qualitative evidence. Community Ment Health J. 2018;54(6):793-804. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1007/s10597-017-0185-9
35. De Ruysscher C, Vandevelde S, Vanderplasschen W, De Maeyer J, Vanheule S. The concept of recovery as experienced by persons with dual diagnosis: A systematic review of qualitative research from a first-person perspective. J Dual Diagn. 2017;13(4):264-279. https://doi-org.ezproxy.haifa.ac.il/10.1080/15504263.2017.1349977
36. Salzer MS, Rogers J, Salandra N, et al. Effectiveness of peer-delivered Center for Independent Living supports for individuals with psychiatric disabilities: A randomized, controlled trial. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2016;39(3):239-247. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000220
37. Walter O, Thomas EC, Salzer MS. Exploring peer specialists’ experiences with spirituality in their work: Recommendations for future directions. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2021;45(1):95-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/prj0000495
38. Smith JA. Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Getting at lived experience. The J Posit Psychol. 2017;12(3):303-304.
39. Mead S, MacNeil C. Peer support: What makes it unique. Int J Psychosoc Rehabil. 2006;10(2): 29-37.
40. Thoits PA. Motivations for peer-support volunteering: Social identities and role-identities as sources of motivation. Nonprofit Volunt Sect Q. 2021;50(4):797-815.
41. Baetz M, Griffin R, Bowen R, Koenig HG, Marcoux E. The association between spiritual and religious involvement and depressive symptoms in a Canadian population. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2004;192(12):818-822.
42. Curlin FA, Sellergren SA, Lantos JD, Chin MH. Physicians' observations and interpretations of the influence of religion and spirituality on health. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(7):649-654.
43. Jawaid H. Assessing perception of patients and physicians regarding spirituality in Karachi, Pakistan: A pilot study. Perm J. 2020;24(19):214. https://doi.org/10.7812/tpp/19.214
44. Longo DA, Peterson SM. The role of spirituality in psychosocial rehabilitation. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2002;25(4):333-340. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/h0095004
45. Wright AC, Kritikos K, Bhiku K, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on peer specialists. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2022;45(3):201–211. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000517
46. Suresh R, Alam A, Karkossa Z. Using peer support to strengthen mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A review. Front Psychiatry, 2021;12:714181. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.714181
47. Persich MR, Smith R, Cloonan S, Woods‐Lubbert R, Strong M, Killgore WDS. Emotional intelligence training as a protective factor for mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Depress Anxiety. 2021;38(10):1018–1025. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.23202