Spiritual Interventions for Children in Crises and War: A Review Study

Introduction and goal: Humanitarian crises such as war, displacement, and natural disasters place children at high risk for psychological and physical harm. In these situations, spiritual and psychosocial interventions can play a supportive role for affected children. This study aimed to review spiritual interventions for children in crises and war settings. Methods: In this review article, studies related to spiritual interventions for children in war and crisis contexts were examined. The databases PubMed, Cochrane, and CINAHL were searched. The search strategy included the keywords: *WAR, disaster, PTSD, spiritual, pediatric*, and studies published in English between ۲۰۱۰ and ۲۰۲۴ were included. A total of ۳۹ articles were initially identified, and after applying inclusion criteria, ۱۰ articles were reviewed. The target population in all studies consisted of children and adolescents affected by war, displacement, or earthquakes. Results: The review of interventions for children exposed to war and terrorism emphasized the importance of providing safety and a sense of security, establishing communication with the child, and addressing their basic needs, including spiritual needs. Recent research shows that spiritual interventions, either directly (e.g., prayer, meaning-making, religious support, and fostering hope) or indirectly (e.g., life narrative reconstruction, spiritually-integrated CBT, and group therapy), significantly improve emotional outcomes for children in crisis situations. Combining evidence-based psychological interventions with spirituality and local cultural practices enhances treatment acceptance and the sustainability of positive effects. Conclusion: In clinical practice and humanitarian planning, spiritual interventions alongside psychological and medical treatments can be considered as part of comprehensive interventions for children. There is a need for further clinical trials with stronger study designs in this field.