El papel de la espiritualidad en la resiliencia de las familias víctimas de desplazamiento forzado en Tunja, Boyacá

Abstract

Forced displacement is a complex sociopolitical problem that causes profound disruptions in the lives of victim families, affecting their identity, relationships, and life plans. In Colombia, this reality is exacerbated by the ongoing armed conflict and involuntary migration, which has intensified the psychosocial impacts in receiving communities. The objective of this research was to analyze the role of spirituality in the resilience of families displaced by force in Tunja, Boyacá. The study was conducted at the Santa Bárbara Parish, with the voluntary participation of 29 people: four families from Venezuela, Arauca, and Norte de Santander, and a group of nine single mothers. The approach was qualitative, with an action research design, using semi-structured interviews, field notes, and participant observation. The findings show that spirituality, expressed through prayer, community participation, and pastoral support, fosters a reinterpretation of pain and strengthens family bonds. God was referenced as a central mediator of resilience by 25 of the 29 participants, underscoring the transcendent dimension as the axis of coping. Likewise, tools such as the resilience tree, the emotional traffic light, and positive affirmations showed a positive impact on the emotional and relational reconstruction of families. It is concluded that spirituality, in conjunction with family resilience, contributes significantly to the reconstruction of the life projects of displaced families, strengthening their capacities for social adaptation, hope, and human dignity. However, the results should be interpreted with caution given that the sample is limited to a single parish and the intervention period was five months.