Dr. Yanti Ivana Suryanto, M.Sc., a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) Yogyakarta, has officially earned her doctorate in Physiology. She completed her PhD at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta with the distinction of “very satisfactory.”
In her dissertation, “The Impact of Taizé Worship on Stress Resilience, Stress Levels, and Spirituality in Young Adults – A Study of the Autonomic Nervous, Cardiovascular, Endocrine Systems, and Brainwave Changes,” Dr. Ivana demonstrated that spirituality plays a key role in enhancing resilience, or the ability to recover from significant stress without suffering adverse effects.
What makes this research unique is its integration of science and spirituality. Her study explores the physiological mechanisms through which Taizé worship helps students manage everyday stress. It examines the cardiovascular system, the autonomic nervous system, endocrine responses, and brainwave patterns, offering an alternative approach to strengthening resilience among young people—especially in light of today’s growing mental health challenges.
“The high levels of stress experienced by young adults require strong resilience to prevent negative outcomes. This research assesses the impact of Taizé worship on stress resilience, stress levels, and spirituality in young adults. The findings show that Taizé worship increases resilience and spirituality while reducing stress levels,” Dr. Ivana explained.
She further clarified that Taizé worship is a Christian practice that blends music, prayer, and moments of silence. By using video-guided sessions, the worship fosters emotional regulation and influences autonomic responses, helping to increase resilience and spirituality while reducing stress.
The Dean of UKDW’s Faculty of Medicine, Dr. The Maria Meiwati Widagdo, Ph.D., praised Dr. Ivana’s accomplishment in successfully defending her dissertation and earning her Ph.D from UGM. “This is an extraordinary achievement after a challenging academic journey,” she said. “Her doctorate not only adds to her personal milestones but also enriches the academic caliber of UKDW’s Faculty of Medicine.”
“We hope that the knowledge she has gained will contribute to the ongoing development of our Faculty. We are grateful to her supervisors at UGM for guiding her through her studies and express our deepest appreciation to her family and everyone who supported and prayed for her throughout this process. Family support has been a vital part of today’s success,” Dr. Maria added.
UKDW Rector Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih, S.T., M.T., expressed her pride in Dr. Ivana’s achievement, which increases the number of doctoral holders at the Faculty of Medicine. She emphasized the importance of Dr. Ivana’s research in strengthening UKDW’s values by linking the spirituality inherent in Taizé worship with health.
“This is a significant breakthrough that enhances UKDW’s strengths and uniqueness. The fusion of spirituality and medicine is a tangible manifestation of our vision. Congratulations to Dr. Yanti Ivana Suryanto, M.Sc.,” the Rector concluded. [humasukdw/trans.drr]