RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: A CASE OF MILIMANI ESTATE, KITENGELA TOWN IN KAJIADO COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Psychological wellbeing is the pillar for all aspects of an individual’s functioning, and if not ensured, psychological wellbeing problems will continue to be a burden to societal health. Religion can solve the growing psychological wellbeing issues in the world but, it remains little-explored. This study investigated the relationship between Christian religious practices and psychological wellbeing in Kenya, and was undertaken, as a descriptive survey, in Milimani Estate in Kitengela Town, Kajiado County in Kenya. The target population was 1,200 adult Christian residents. Stratified sampling was used to select 120 Christians attending various churches in Kitengela Town. Data was collected using questionnaires comprising both closed and open-ended questions. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics frequencies, mean scores and composite scores. Inferential statistics particularly correlation and regression techniques were then applied to test the significance of the influence of Christian religious practices on psychological wellbeing. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data from open-ended sections. Verbatim excerpts were used to fortify the analysis and interpretation of qualitative data. Regression results indicated that religious practices explained a small but statistically significant variability in psychological wellbeing of the respondents (R2=12.8, p<.01). Specifically, the individual predictive power of prayer, meditation and fellowship were not statistically significant but their joint effect had statistically significant explanatory power on psychological wellbeing. The implication of the study is that Christian religious practices only boost psychological wellbeing when combined. However, this must still be augmented with other interventions to have practical significance. Conclusion was that spirituality was just but a small part of psychological wellbeing. Religious practices restore one’s negative emotional state back to equilibrium. The study recommended that spirituality should be integrated with other interventions in treating psychopathologies.