Abstract :

This qualitative study utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences and meaning-making processes of 10 COVID-19 survivors and 6 caregivers in the Philippines. In-depth interviews focused on their multidimensional experiences during acute illness, including hospitalization, intubation, and hemoperfusion, and their subsequent journey of coping and post-crisis growth. The findings reveal that participants achieved resilience through a multifaceted process of recovery spanning physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. In this context, resilience is defined as the robust capacity to not only recover from the physiological impact of the virus but also to adapt to the extended social and emotional consequences, such as isolation, profound loss, and stigma. Critically, the study identifies that this resilience is fundamentally anchored in spiritual connections, successful meaning-making, and the ability to emerge with a “Life of Significance”. The research concludes that fostering resilience is a holistic endeavor, demanding adequate social support and resources for both survivors and caregivers. This study contributes to the field of palliative care by emphasizing the need to address holistic spiritual, psychosocial, and physical needs throughout the illness and recovery trajectory.

---

Keywords :

COVID-19 survivors, caregiver burden, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), meaning-making, spiritual resilience, post-traumatic growth, palliative care, Philippines

---

References :

1. Abuhammad, S., Alzoubi, K. H., Khabour, O. F., Hamaideh, S., Khasawneh, B., & El-Zubi, M. (2025). Physical and mental health well-being of COVID-19 recovered patients: A phenomenological study. PloS one, 20(8), e0324433. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324433
2. Ahmed, U., Muhammad Mohsin, Fatima, Z., Zahra Zulfiqar, Iqra Bajwa, & Rahat Fatima. (2023). Coping strategies of Covid-19 among survivors: A case of Punjab, Pakistan. Southern Journal of Research, 3(2), 12–22. https://doi.org/10.20021/sjr.v1i2.37

3. Algahtani FD, Alsaif B, Ahmed AA, Almishaal AA, Obeidat ST, Mohamed RF, Kamel RM, Gul I and Hassan SuN (2022) Using spiritual connections to cope with stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psycholology. 13:915290. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.915290
4. Aranda, (2021). Exploring the impact of open dialogue delivered on digital platforms: A Special Studies Project. Emory University, https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/6969z224h?locale=en
5. Atinga, R. A., Alhassan, N. M. I., & Ayawine, A. (2022). Recovered but constrained: narratives of Ghanaian Covid-19 survivors experiences and coping pathways of stigma, discrimination, social exclusion and their sequels. International Journal of Health Policy and Management (11)9, 1801-1813. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2021.81
6. Bailey, C., Guo, P., MacArtney, J., Finucane, A., Swan, S., Meade, R., & Wagstaff, E. (2022). The experiences of informal carers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13455. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013455
7. Baykal, E., & Zehir, C. (2018). Mediating effect of psychological capital on the relationship between spiritual leadership and performance. Economics, Management, and Financial Markets, 13(3), 27–46. https://doi.org/10.15240/tul/001/2018-3-008
8. Bentzen, J.S., (2021). In crisis we pray: religiosity and the covid-19 Pandemic. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. 192 (2021). 541-583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.10.014.
9. Dar, S. A., Dar, M. M., Sheikh, S., Haq, I., Azad, A. M. U. D., Mushtaq, M., Shah, N. N., & Wani, Z. A. (2021). Psychiatric comorbidities among COVID-19 survivors in North India: A cross-sectional study. Journal Of Education and Health Promotion, 10, 309. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_119_21
10. De Dios, Christian Bryan. (2022). Surviving the pandemic: A consensual qualitative research on the lived experiences of Filipino COVID-19 patient survivors. 10.5281/Zenodo.6635532. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6635532

13. Englander M. (2016). The phenomenological method in qualitative psychology and psychiatry. International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 11, 30682. https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v11.30682
14. Ermiş, E. N. (2023). The mediating role of the meaning of life in the effect of spiritual well-being on post-traumatic growth during the Covid-19 pandemic process. Spiritual Psychology and Counseling, 8(3), 227-248 https://doi.org/10.37898/spiritualpc.1288937
15. Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press. (Original work published 1946)
16. Gronholm, P. C., Nosé, M., van Brakel, W. H., Eaton, J., Ebenso, B., Fiekert, K., Thornicroft, G. (2021). Reducing stigma and discrimination associated with COVID-19: Early stage pandemic rapid  review and practical recommendations. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 2021;30:e15. doi:10.1017/S2045796021000056
17. Gulia, A., Mishra, S., & Bhatnagar, S. (2020). Multiple caregiving role with the novel challenge of COVID-19 pandemic: A crisis situation. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 26(Suppl 1), S163–S165. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_165_20
18. Guan N, Guariglia A, Moore P, Xu F, Al-Janabi H (2022) Financial stress and depression in adults: A systematic review. PLoS ONE 17(2): e0264041. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264041
19. Irandoost, S. F., Ahmadi, A., Esprooz, S., Saki, M., Yıldırım, M., Hosseini, R., & Yoosefi Lebni, J. (2025). Exploring the psycho-social needs of families of COVID-19 victims and their reactions to health protocol adherence after bereavement: a qualitative study. BMC psychology, 13(1), 810. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03156-3
20. Nida, F. L. K. (2021). Faith and the meaning of life: reflections on the crisis experience andspiritual transformation of Covid-19 Survivors. Proceeding of Saizu International Conference on Transdisciplinary Religious Studies, 178–194. https://doi.org/10.24090/icontrees.2021.257
21. Pietkiewicz, I., & Smith, J. A. (2014). A practical guide to using interpretative phenomenological analysis in qualitative research psychology. Czasopismo Psychologiczne – Psychological Journal, 20(1),  7–14. https://doi.org/10.14691/CPPJ.20.1.7
22. Ragpala, E. (2022). Fighting a battle alone: Experiences of Covid-19 survivors of mandatory isolation. Philippine Social Science Journal, 5 (3). https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4289-1679
23. Rillo, J. A., Uy, T. M. E., Macapagal, C. D., Mariano, M. C. R., Melosantos, M. F., Villena, C. M. D., Catabona, Z. B. (2022). Quarantine victors: Lived experiences of hospitalized COVID-19 survivors. Proceedings Series on Health & Medical Sciences, 2, 21–41. https://doi.org/10.30595/pshms.v2i.219
24. Rogers, C. R. (1951). Client-centered therapy: Its current practice, implications, and theory. Houghton Mifflin.
25. Rogers SL, Cruickshank T. (2021). Change in mental health, physical health, and social relationships during highly restrictive lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from Australia. PeerJ               9:e11767 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11767
26. Russell, B. S., Hutchison, M., Tambling, R., Tomkunas, A. J., & Horton, A. L. (2020). Initial challenges of caregiving during COVID-19: Caregiver burden, mental health, and the parent-child relationship. Child psychiatry and human development, 51(5), 671–682. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-020-01037-x
27. Sheehy LM. (2020). Considerations for post-acute rehabilitation for survivors of COVID-19 JMIR Public Health Surveill 2020;6(2):e19462. http://doi.org/10.2196/19462
28. Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., Larkin, Michael. (2021). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.
29. Smith, J.A. and Osborn, M. (2008) Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. In: Smith, J.A., Ed., Qualitative Psychology: A Practical Guide to Research Methods, Sage, London, 53-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470776278.ch10
30. Sun, W., Chen, W. T., Zhang, Q., Ma, S., Huang, F., Zhang, L., & Lu, H. (2021). Post-Traumatic growth  experiences among COVID-19 confirmed cases in China: A qualitative study. Clinical nursing research, 30(7), 1079–1087. https://doi.org/10.1177/10547738211016951

29. Sutton E, Catling J, Segaert K and Veldhuijzen van Zanten J (2022). Cognitive health worries, reduced physical activity and fewer social interactions negatively impact psychological wellbeing in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psycholology. 13:823089. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.823089

30. Torales, J., O’Higgins, M., Castaldelli-Maia, J. M., & Ventriglio, A. (2020). The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66(4), 317–320. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020915212

31. Trisyani Y, Mahendra D, Nuraeni A. (2024). Lessons learned from the lived experiences of COVID-19 ICU survivors who are struggling through critical conditions and surviving to champion life: A qualitative study. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2024;17:2659-2669 https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S380389