The Examen for Life During COVID-19: impact on interpersonal processes, self-transcendent positive emotions, and mental health symptoms

<p>In times of crisis, such as during a pandemic, people turn to their belief systems to cope. One exercise that may be helpful for individuals as they cope with the COVID-19 pandemic is the examen, a contemplative practice rooted in the Catholic Jesuit tradition. Prior research on the examen is scant but suggests that further research may be promising. Haarman (2020) adapted the Ignatian examen for the context of COVID-19. The Examen for Life During COVID-19 includes seven steps: 1) acknowledging one’s emotions, 2) asking for light and insight when reviewing the day, 3) reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 on one’s life and how it has influenced one’s social connections, 4) reflecting on ways that one is interwoven with others in society, including which connections people often ignore, 5) acknowledging one’s emotions throughout the reflection, 6) reflecting on a connection that seems most important or significant, and 7) reflecting on ways that one can maintain a connection with others that is meaningful. The present study explored how practicing the Examen for Life during COVID-19 impacted participants’ experience of self-transcendent positive emotions, autonomous interpersonal styles, interpersonal relationship goals, and anxiety and depression symptoms. It also examined the moderating impact of trust in God on mental health symptoms and negative affect. Though results did not reveal support for a priori hypotheses, exploratory analyses revealed that the Examen for Life During COVID-19 may be particularly helpful for those most negatively impacted by the pandemic. The results highlight the utility of studying a variety of contemplative practices, as different practices will likely be helpful for different practitioners. It also prompts consideration of practitioner’s prior experience with prayer, the purpose of contemplative psychology, selection of control groups, and limitations of psychological inquiry into spirituality.</p>