Many people experience the current COVID-19 pandemic as a mental state of emergency. This is why it is important to understand how people behave in these challenging times and how they find meaning in their lives. University Lecturer in Applied Studies in Theology Suvi-Maria Saarelainen at the University of Eastern Finland is one of the researchers involved in the launch of an international study into how COVID-19 affects people. The research project is called Finding meaning in the times of pandemic. The project brings together people from several countries: the research teams are located in Spain, Italy and Finland.
The researchers will explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affects people. A particular interest is how people experience meaning in life and values during the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e. what is the role of religiousness, spirituality and other core values.
“The experience of having meaning in life is an important part of people’s well-being. Sudden changes and crises have an effect on how meaning in life is experienced. In a worst-case scenario, these changes can damage and disrupt a person’s experience of having meaning in life,” Saarelainen explains.
In the study, spirituality is understood as a broad concept that can include religious experiences as well as non-religious experiences relating to sanctity and looking for meaning in life.
Anyone over 18 years of age from anywhere in the world can participate in the study. The researchers are hoping to reach people from all corners of the world and from all walks of life in order for different world views, experiences and values to be represented in the study.
For further information, please contact:
University Lecturer Suvi-Maria Saarelainen, suvi.saarelainen(at)uef.fi, tel. +358 50 467 6975