Association between Religiosity and Psychological Wellbeing Mediated by Religious Commitment among Members of Catholic Religious Orders in Nairobi County
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Date
2018-08
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
Religiosity and Psychological Wellbeing have been widely researched in scientific
studies. However, there is limitation of research between intrinsic/extrinsic religiosity and
psychological wellbeing mediated by religious commitment among Members of Catholic
Religious Orders in Nairobi, Kenya. Therefore, the present study analyzed the association
between religiosity and psychological wellbeing mediated by religious commitment in a
sample of 282 members of Catholic Religious Orders in Nairobi, aged between 25-60
years. New Indices of Religious Orientation Revised (NIROR), Religious Commitment
Inventory and Ryff’s Psychological Wellbeing Scales were used to this aim. A causal
comparative, cross-sectional study design was used to explore the effects of variables in a
non-experimental setting. To achieve the objectives, descriptive analysis, simple linear
regression, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Pearson’s correlation were used to
analyze the data. In addition, the study examined the impact of demographic variables of
age, gender, level of education and years of religious profession on Psychological
Wellbeing of members of Catholic Religious Orders. The study revealed that years in the
Catholic Religious Order played an important role in influencing the relationship between
Religiosity and Psychological Wellbeing. Participants in Catholic Religious Orders who
had over 10 years had better Psychological Wellbeing than those who had been in the
Catholic Religious Order for less than 10 years. The results of Pearson’s correlation
showed positive significant association between intrinsic religiosity and psychological
wellbeing and negative significant association between extrinsic religiosity and
psychological wellbeing. The study also found out that religious commitment had
significant influence to the relationship between intrinsic religiosity and psychological
wellbeing but no significant influence on the relationship between extrinsic religiosity
and psychological wellbeing. This means that members of Catholic Religious Orders with
intrinsic religious orientation had significantly reduced psychological wellbeing
compared those who had extrinsic religious orientation when exposed to much religious
commitment. Lastly, to explore how members of Catholic Religious Orders could
improve their religious commitment and psychological wellbeing, 3 focus groups
consisting 8 participants each were conducted. The qualitative study showed that in order
to promote psychological wellbeing, the leaders of Catholic Religious Orders have to
come up with formative programs which can help the members to become intrinsically
oriented for the sake of those who may be struggling with low psychological wellbeing.
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Keywords
Religiosity, Psychological Wellbeing, Religious Commitment