Religião, saúde e resiliência diante da pandemia da covid-19: o caso dos técnicos administrativos em educação da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF)

Abstract

This research seeks to understand the construction of resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the relationship between religion/spirituality, health, and institutional support from UFJF (Federal University of Juiz de Fora) as a mechanism of support and sustenance. The research sample consisted of UFJF's technical-administrative staff assigned to PROGEPE (Pro-Rectory of Personnel Management), and the problem raised refers to the biopsychosocial impacts caused by the pandemic, generating fear, insecurity, and suffering, altering social, institutional, and personal dynamics, which required the construction of coping strategies and a reinterpretation of the crisis. The objective was to analyze the group's perception of religion and spirituality, and the differentiation between these concepts; their beliefs or disbeliefs and how these are present in their lives; what the pandemic represented, its main impacts on them, and how they faced these adversities; their perception of UFJF's actions regarding biosafety protocols and measures, as well as the importance of medical science; and finally, how these individuals are doing now after the pandemic. The study was conducted in two stages: a literature review and field research using a questionnaire with quantitative and qualitative questions, giving the research a mixed-methods profile. Content analysis was used to analyze the collected data. Thirty-four responses were obtained, indicating that religion/spirituality, combined with institutional support from UFJF (Federal University of Juiz de Fora), were important elements in coping with and reframing the pandemic, and in building and strengthening resilience.