Title: Exploring The Reflections Of The Generation Z On The Laity's Constructivist-Spiritual Retreat
Authors: Jastin E. Oniot
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Pages: 56-64
Publication Date: 2025/01/28
Abstract:
Reflections gained from a spiritual retreat experience enhance an individual's well-being by fostering self-awareness, emotional regulation, and personal growth, leading to improved spiritual wellness. This study explored the experiences of Generation Z students, aged 17-21, with family and school problems and avoidance behaviors, highlighting the impact of their participation in a spiritual retreat. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach, semi-structured interviews in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with thirty participants were conducted, and data were triangulated through interviews with the parents of five participants. Findings revealed that the arts-based constructivist spiritual retreat provided significant self-transformational and spiritual benefits for adolescent students. Initially, participants described their spirituality as distressed, characterized by low self-esteem, and social isolation and rejection, adversely affecting their relationships and decision-making. During the retreat, they reflected on the importance of optimism, emotional expression, and enhanced faith, facilitated by sharing life stories, empathetic listening, and arts-based activities. Post-retreat, participants reported restored communication with parents and peers, personal development, and spiritual upliftment, including improved self-identity, self-appreciation, and healthier behaviors, demonstrating the retreat's effectiveness in addressing their cognitive, affective, and behavioral challenges. It was concluded that the constructivist spiritual retreat offers multiple benefits for adolescents with cognitive, affective, behavioral, and spiritual problems. It is recommended that the laity's arts-based constructivist spiritual retreat may be integrated into all public and private high schools' guidance programs.