Syncretic Cognitive Behavioral Counseling: Developing Students’ Meaning of Life through the Blended Values of Islamic and Osing Culture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18326/pamomong.v6i1.3900Keywords:
Cognitive Behavior Counseling, Cultural- Counseling, Meaning of Life, Osing Culture, SyncretismAbstract
The Osing culture embodies syncretic values that influence individuals respond to life’s challenges and shape their values and belief as part of their meaning of life (MoL). This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of integrating Osing cultural syncretism into Cognitive Behavioral Counseling (CBC) to support students in developing MoL based on creative, experiential, and attitudinal dimensions. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used, involving 30 students from the Osing ethnic group by purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Meaning of Life Questionnaire (MLQ), adapted to reflect Osing cultural constructs, supported with alpha reliability at .769. The results were analyzed using a paired-sample t-test. Findings revealed a significant positive difference in students’ MoL scores after the intervention, supporting the effectiveness of the syncretic CBC model as the significant value below .001. The blended Osing cultural and Islamic values had become syncretism practices in the community spiritual dimension. This contributes in counseling for students’ cognitive reframing and value-based decision-making. Syncretism serves as a foundation for belief systems and automatic thought patterns. This study suggests culturally grounded counseling to enhance psychological outcomes based on exploration of Osing spiritual-cultural practices, like Barong Ider Bumi, Tumpeng Sewu, and other local wisdoms.
References
Afdal, A., Fikri, M., Neviyarni, N., Iswari, M., Sukmawati, I., Firman, F., Karneli, Y., Mardianto, M., & Hariko, R. (2023). Hoax behavior tendencies among Indonesian students: An analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 12(1), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v12i1.23632
Aldwin, C. M., Park, C. L., Jeong, Y. J., & Nath, R. (2014). Differing pathways between religiousness, spirituality, and health: A self-regulation perspective. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 6(1), 9–21. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034416
Alfadla, M. T., Hanafi, H., Rahman, D. H., Khuzaimah, & Mappiare-AT, A. (2020). Anxiety management for new normal era: Hermeneutic studies of Kitab Kuning. International Conference on Information Technology and Education (ICITE 2020), 217–222. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.201214.239
Ardiansyah, R., Listari, T., & Syahidin, M. (2024). Identifying the traditions and culture of the Osing tribe in Kemiren Village, Banyuwangi Regency as a supplement to social geography learning. International Journal of Geography, Social, and Multicultural Education, 2(2), 56–66. https://doi.org/10.26740/ijgsme.v2n2.p56-66
Bartrés-Faz, D., Cattaneo, G., Solana, J., Tormos, J. M., & Pascual-Leone, A. (2018). Meaning in life: Resilience beyond reserve. Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy, 10(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-018-0381-z
Beck, J. S. (2021). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (3rd ed.). New York: The Guilford Press.
Beck, J. S., & Fleming, S. (2021). A brief history of Aaron T. Beck, MD, and cognitive behavior therapy. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 3(2), e6701. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.6701
Cantrill, A. (2024). The impact of cultural experiences on mental health, career readiness and decision making in late adolescence: An international school qualitative interview study. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 52(3), 580–599. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2024.2322734
Ciccarelli, M., Nigro, G., D’Olimpio, F., Griffiths, M. D., & Cosenza, M. (2021). Mentalizing failures, emotional dysregulation, and cognitive distortions among adolescent problem gamblers. Journal of Gambling Studies, 37(1), 283–298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-020-09967-w
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
Crumb, L., & Haskins, N. (2017). An integrative approach: Relational cultural theory and cognitive behavior therapy in college counseling. Journal of College Counseling, 20(3), 263–277. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocc.12074
Darimis, D., Hidayah, N., Atmoko, A., Ramli, M., Fitriyah, F. K., & Hanafi, H. (2022). Treating verbal bullying among students between cognitive behavioral counseling and group counseling with discussion. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 12(4), 253–259. https://doi.org/10.47750/pegegog.12.04.26
Dewitte, L., & Dezutter, J. (2021). Meaning reflectivity in later life: The relationship between reflecting on meaning in life, presence and search for meaning, and depressive symptoms in older adults over the age of 75. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 4933. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.726150
Erby, A. N. (2019). Critical incidents in a brief multicultural counseling experiential group. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 44(4), 235–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2019.1669754
Fajaryanto, G., & Subiyanto, A. (2020). Uncovering the culture of Osing people in palatalizing the consonant clusters. Anuva: Jurnal Kajian Budaya, Perpustakaan, dan Informasi, 4(4), 475–492. https://doi.org/10.14710/anuva.4.4.475-492
Farhoudi, F., Artounian, V., & Michel, L. (2023). Culture, gender, and aggression in psychodynamic group therapy: A case of a male-only group with female leaders in Iran. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 73(4), 289–311. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207284.2023.2288857
Fitriyah, F. K., Hidayah, N., Muslihati, M., & Hambali, I. (2022). Analysis of character values in the Indonesian nation’s motto “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” through an emancipatory hermeneutical study. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 12(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.47750/pegegog.12.01.01
Fitriyah, F. K., Hidayah, N., Muslihati, M., Hambali, I., & Ibad, M. (2021). The role of demographic characteristics and spiritual dimensions in predicting empathy: A study in Muslim pre-service teachers. Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.25217/igcj.v4i2.1553
Gavrilova, Y., Shchetkina, I., Liga, M., & Gordeeva, N. (2018). Religious syncretism as a sociocultural factor of social security in cross-border regions. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 21(3), 231–245. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2018.1460590
Ginting, H. F. B., Hidayah, N., & Lasan, B. B. (2019). Profil meaning of life siswa budaya Karo. Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan, 4(2), 242–246. Retrieved from https://journal.um.ac.id/index.php/jptpp/article/view/12009
Głaz, S. (2019). The relationship of forgiveness and values with meaning in life of Polish students. Journal of Religion and Health, 58(5), 1886–1907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00860-4
Gunawan, F. Y., & Oriza, I. I. D. (2022). Web-based guided self-help acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to increase self-compassion and psychological flexibility in psychology undergraduates suffering emotional distress: A feasibility study. ANIMA Indonesian Psychological Journal, 37(1). https://doi.org/10.24123/aipj.v37i1.3033
Guzmán-Pimentel, M., & Rojas-Solís, J. L. (2022). La violencia hacia el hombre en la pareja heterosexual en el contexto latinoamericano: Una revisión de principales hallazgos y aspectos metodológicos. International and Multidisciplinary Journal of Social Sciences, 11(2), 30–59. https://doi.org/10.17583/rimcis.10328
Habsy, B. A., & Wahyuni, F. (2019). Scientific foundation of Nusantara culture based counseling model: KIPAS (Konseling Intensif Progresif Adaptif Struktur). European Journal of Education Studies, 5(9), 213–230. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2548956
Habsy, B. A., Hidayah, N., Lasan, B. B., Muslihati, & Fudholi, A. (2019). The development of Semar counseling to improve the self-esteem of vocational students with psychological distress. International Journal of Emerging Technology in Learning, 14(10), 132–149. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v14i10.10221
Hanafi, H., Hidayah, N., & Mappiare, A. (2018). Adopsi nilai budaya Osing dalam kerangka meaning of life. Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian dan Pengembangan, 3(9), 1237–1243. https://doi.org/10.17977/jptpp.v3i9.11597
Hanafi, H., Hidayah, N., Atmoko, A., M., R., & Triyono, T. (2022). Cognitive fusion on counselor performance: A comparative study of the experienced and novice counselor. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 12(1), 48–55. https://doi.org/10.47750/pegegog.12.01.06
Hanafi, H., Hidayah, N., Rusmana, N., Asrowi, Apriani, R., Saputra, N. M. A., Ilmi, A. M., Kurniawan, N. A., & Fifi Khoirul Fitriyah. (2025). Exploring post-traumatic growth in child survivors of the Semeru eruption: The role of religious and social support in recovery. Child Education Journal, 6(3), 141–149. https://doi.org/10.33086/cej.v6i3.6838
Hanafi, H., Hidayah, N., Triyono, Mappiare-AT, A., & Atmoko, A. (2020). Belief system on multicultural counseling: Literature review of positive belief system of Nusantara culture. 1st International Conference on Information Technology and Education (ICITE 2020), 197–201. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.201214.236
Harahap, M. Z., Hidayah, N., Ramli, M., & Hanafi, H. (2019). Konseling behavioral berbasis budaya Batak Angkola. Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian dan Pengembangan, 4(5), 219–224. https://doi.org/10.17977/jptpp.v5i2.13177
Hidayah, N., & Ramli, M. (2017). Need of cognitive-behavior counseling model based on local wisdom to improve meaning of life of Madurese culture junior high school students. In Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, Volume 128. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Education and Training (ICET 2017) (pp. 301–307). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/icet-17.2017.53
Hidayah, N., Fauzan, L., Wahyuni, F., & Hanafi, H. (2022). Conceptual development of online psychological assessment training design for guidance and counseling teachers on the academic life of high school students. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (IJIM), 16(06), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijim.v16i06.28965
Hidayah, N., Hanafi, H., Ramli, M., & Rofiqoh. (2020). Student’s meaning of life based on resilience in new normal era. 1st International Conference on Information Technology and Education (ICITE 2020), 239–244. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.201214.243
Hidayah, N., Izzati, U. A., Hidayat, H., Wahyuni, F., Saputra, W. N. E., Hanafi, H., Kurniawan, N. A., & Yunita, M. (2025). School anxiety in Indonesian madrasahs: Exploring a growing hidden crisis. South Eastern European Journal of Public Health, 2799–2812. https://doi.org/10.70135/seejph.vi.3194
Hidayah, N., Ramli, M., & Hanafi, H. (2018a). East Java modeling techniques to improve student meaning of life. In Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, Volume 269. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Educational Management and Administration (CoEMA 2018) (pp. 181–185). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/coema-18.2018.43
Hidayah, N., Ramli, M., & Hanafi, H. (2018b). Modeling technique on Madurese culture based on Bhupa’ Bhabu’ Ghuru Rato’ values. In Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, Volume 285. International Conference on Education and Technology (ICET 2018) (pp. 245–248). Retrieved from https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/icet-18/125926665
Hidayah, N., Ramli, M., Fauzan, L., Nor, M. B. M., Rofiqoh, R., Hanafi, H., & Saputra, N. M. A. (2024). Development of a hybrid training package of narrative counseling based on Parebhasan culture to improve counselor skills in Madura. Journal of Innovation in Educational and Cultural Research, 5(3), 417–425. https://doi.org/10.46843/jiecr.v5i3.514
Hidayah, N., Yuliana, A. T., & Hanafi, H. (2020). Theoretical validity of problem focused-coping skill guideline to develop students’ critical thinking skills. Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling, 5(4), 183–191. https://doi.org/10.17977/um001v5i42020p183
Hinton, D. E., & Patel, A. (2017). Cultural adaptations of cognitive behavioral therapy. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 40(4), 701–714. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2017.08.006
Hosseini Rafsanjani, T., Arab, M., Ravari, A., Miri, S., & Safarpour, H. (2017). A study on the effects of spiritual group therapy on hope and the mental and spiritual health of patients with colorectal cancer. Progress in Palliative Care, 25(4), 171–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/09699260.2017.1339518
Husain, A., & Hodge, D. R. (2016). Islamically modified cognitive behavioral therapy: Enhancing outcomes by increasing the cultural congruence of cognitive behavioral therapy self-statements. International Social Work, 59(3), 393–405. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872816629193
Indiarti, W., & Hasibin, N. (2018). Menembangkan Lontar Yusup Banyuwangi: Strategi preservasi warisan budaya lintas generasi. JATI EMAS (Jurnal Aplikasi Teknik dan Pengabdian Masyarakat), 2(2), 69. https://doi.org/10.36339/je.v2i2.155
Indiarti, W., & Hasibin, N. (2019). Lontar Yusup Banyuwangi: Warna lokal dan variasi teks dalam manuskrip Pegon di ujung timur Jawa. Manuskripta, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.33656/manuskripta.v9i1.127
Indiarti, W., & Wangi, W. (2015). Tingkat keberterimaan terjemahan istilah budaya Osing: Sebuah studi kasus terpancang. Ranah: Jurnal Kajian Bahasa, 4(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.26499/rnh.v4i1.22
Iswanto, A., Mashuri, Sastri Sunarti, Mahmudah Nur, Fiqru Mafar, Wiwin Indiarti, & M. Agus Noorbani. (2023). Safeguarding manuscript-reading tradition as living heritage through ritual: Mocoan tradition of an Osing family in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. International Journal of Intangible Heritage, 18, 159–171. https://doi.org/10.35638/ijih.2023.18..011
Jovanović, V., Ilić, M., Šakan, D., & Brdar, I. (2024). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Revisiting the evidence of validity and measurement invariance using the exploratory structural equation modeling. Assessment. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911241304223
Kiyimba, N., & Anderson, R. (2022). Reflecting on cultural meanings of spirituality/wairuatanga in post-traumatic growth using the Māori wellbeing model of Te Whare Tapa Whā. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 25(3), 345–361. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2022.2028750
Krafft, J., Haeger, J. A., & Levin, M. E. (2019). Comparing cognitive fusion and cognitive reappraisal as predictors of college student mental health. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 48(3), 241–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2018.1513556
Kurniasari, S., Masitoh, D., Anfal, N., & Indiarti, W. (2019). Translation strategies of Lontar Yusup Banyuwangi in Bernard Arps’ tembang in two traditions: Performances and interpretation of Javanese literature. Ethical Lingua: Journal of Language Teaching and Literature, 6(2), 158–163. https://doi.org/10.30605/25409190.v6.158-163
Lokhov, S., Mamchenkov, D., & Tavberidze, D. (2018). The meaning of life as a subject of philosophical reflection. In 3rd International Conference on Contemporary Education, Social Sciences and Humanities (ICCESSH 2018) (pp. 63–67). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/iccessh-18.2018.15
Mappiare-AT, A., Hidayah, N., Muslihati, & Fauzan, L. (2019). Adoption of People’s Game as a modification technique in KIPAS model counseling. In 5th International Conference on Education and Technology (ICET 2019). https://doi.org/10.2991/icet-19.2019.139
Martela, F., & Steger, M. F. (2016). The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance. Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 531–545. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2015.1137623
Miller, C. J., Smith, S. N., & Pugatch, M. (2020). Experimental and quasi-experimental designs in implementation research. Psychiatry Research, 283, 112452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.06.027
Mony, W., Hidayah, N., & Wahyuni, F. (2022). Penerapan konseling berbasis budaya Minangkabau di Provinsi Sumatera Barat. Jurnal Ilmiah Bimbingan Konseling Undiksha, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.23887/jibk.v13i3.42307
Mulya, T. W., Sakhiyya, Z., Muslim, A. B., & Suryani, A. (2022). Locally-grounded, embodied, and spiritual: Exploring alternative constructions of democratic education with/in Indonesian schools. Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681366.2022.2142840
Muniroh, A., Degeng, I. N. S., Hitipeuw, I., & Hidayah, N. (2016). Peningkatan academic engagement siswa melalui penerapan model problem based learning di Madrasah Tsanawiyah. Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora, 4(1), 36–52. Retrieved from https://journal.um.ac.id/index.php/jph/article/view/8205
Naeem, F., Phiri, P., Rathod, S., & Ayub, M. (2019). Cultural adaptation of cognitive–behavioural therapy. BJPsych Advances, 25(6), 387–395. https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2019.15
Ng, T. K., & Wong, D. F. K. (2018). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for Chinese people: A meta-analysis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52(7), 620–637. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867417741555
Nurhayati, B. R., Koesmartadi, C., & Hadinugroho, D. L. (2025). The development of Osing Kemiren cultural tourist village and community welfare. Jurnal Adat dan Budaya Indonesia, 7(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.23887/jabi.v7i1.75135
Paramita, R. W. D., Rizal, N., Taufiq, M., & Dimyati, M. (2018). Osing culture conservation in perspective corporate social responsibility. Jurnal Terapan Manajemen dan Bisnis, 4(2), 145. https://doi.org/10.26737/jtmb.v4i2.834
Permatasari, D., Hidayah, N., Atmoko, A., Ramli, M., Nor, M. B. M., & Hanafi, H. (2024). Examining cognitive distortions contribution to preservice teachers academic burnout during online teaching practice. South Eastern European Journal of Public Health, 2664–2675. https://doi.org/10.70135/seejph.vi.3089
Price, M. E., & Johnson, D. D. P. (2024). Science and religion around the world: Compatibility between belief systems predicts increased well-being. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2024.2363773
Putro, M. A. P., & Setiawati, N. A. (2022). The transformation of Islamic political identity in the countryside of Banyuwangi through Osing culture in 1970-2005. Islam Realitas: Journal of Islamic and Social Studies, 8(2), 124–139. https://doi.org/10.30983/islam_realitas.v8i2.5992
Rofiqoh, Hidayah, N., Ramli, M., & Hanafi, H. (2021). Development of narrative counseling model based on Madurese Parebasan. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Education and Technology (ICET 2021) (Vol. 601, pp. 189–194). https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211126.058
Routledge, C., & FioRito, T. A. (2021). Why meaning in life matters for societal flourishing. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 3925. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.601899
Roziqi, M., Hasanah, B. U., D.e.k, M. R., Hidayah, N., & Wahyuni, F. (2022). Konseling KIPAS untuk murid korban kekerasan guru. Prosiding Konseling Kearifan Nusantara (KKN), 2, 331–344. Retrieved from https://proceeding.unpkediri.ac.id/index.php/kkn/article/view/2966
Samadifard, H. R., & Narimani, M. (2017). The role of cognitive belief, fusion and distortion in predicting the general health of couples. Journal of Community Health Research, 132–172. Retrieved from http://jhr.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-354-en.html
Saputra, W. N. E., Hidayah, N., Ramli, M., & Atmoko, A. (2023). Development and validation of Indonesian peace of mind scale: The Rasch analysis. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 12(2), 877–885. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v12i2.24847
Septohadi, T., Desinta, S., Udhmiyah, S. H., Setiyani, S., & Santi, D. P. D. (2024). Designing cultural-based worksheets (LKPD) in Osing village culture for elementary school geometry learning. International Journal of Educational Research Excellence (IJERE), 3(2), 896–904. https://doi.org/10.55299/ijere.v3i2.974
Shofwan, M., Suma, N. N., & Jihan, J. C. (2022). Characteristics of indigenous culture and disaster management Osing tribe, Kemiren village, Glagah district, Banyuwangi regency. Fenomena, 21(2), 283–298. https://doi.org/10.35719/fenomena.v21i2.130
Solleveld, F. (2025). The holy word factory: Translation, syncretism, language ideology, and colonial language dynamics at the crossroads of religion and empire. Global Intellectual History, 1–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/23801883.2025.2470865
Su, Y., Pan, R. J., & Chen, K. H. (2014). Encountering selves and others: Finding meaning in life through action and reflection on a social service learning program. Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 8(2), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1017/prp.2014.6
Yu, S., Zhang, F., & Nunes, L. D. (2022). On students’ metamotivational knowledge of self-determination. Metacognition and Learning, 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11409-022-09318-7
Yuen, M., & Datu, J. A. D. (2021). Meaning in life, connectedness, academic self-efficacy, and personal self-efficacy: A winning combination. School Psychology International, 42(1), 79–99. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034320973370
Zuanny, I. P., & Subandi. (2015). Forgiveness therapy to improve the meaningfulness of life inmates in prisons. In International Conference on Science, Technology and Humanity. https://doi.org/10.23917/iseth.2403
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Husni Hanafi, Nur Hidayah, Andi Mappiare AT, Nordin Bin Mamat
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
1.png)
