PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS AND PSYCHO-SOCIAL WELLBEING OF THE DIOCESAN PRIESTS IN THE ARCH- DIOCESE OF NAIROBI, KENYA

Abstract

Stressful circumstances are a common part of daily life for all people. Pastoral work is riddled with an incredible amount of work-related stressors and pressures. The potential for burnout is increased when there is little time to recover from the strains of workload and emotional distress. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of psychological stress and psycho-social wellbeing among diocesan priests in the Catholic Arch-diocese of Nairobi, Kenya. The study was guided by the following research objectives: the prevalence rate of psychological stress among the priests, the causes of stress, the coping strategies to enhance their psycho-social wellbeing and the indicators of psycho-social wellbeing among diocesan priests in the Catholic Arch- diocese of Nairobi, Kenya. This study was based on Job Demands-Resource Theory and Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping. This study used mixed method approach, specifically convergent parallel research design. The target population for this study was 180 priests from the 14 deaneries in the Nairobi Catholic Arch-diocese. Census sampling was used to sample the 14 deanery leaders while simple random sampling was used to sample 124 priests. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview guides. Cronbach’s Alpha was used to check reliability of Likert scale tools whereby a value of 0.7 was found. Reliability of the interview guide was examined through assessing credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability. Pearson Inferential Statistics was used for analyzing quantitative data, while verbatim was used to analyze qualitative data. The findings of this study showed that there was a low correlation (0.002) between stress and psycho-social wellbeing. The mean score for burnout (emotional exhaustion-9.11, depersonalization-9.413, personal accomplishment-11.023) was 9.818 hence moderate level of burnout among the priests. The priests scored high in self-acceptance (m=21.046) and positive relations with others (m=20.885), moderate in personal growth (m=11.908) and autonomy (11.493). Priests however scored low on purpose in life (9.160) and environmental mastery (9.896). The study recommended that; the policy makers may consider developing synodal-approach policies at various levels to renew and perfect work relationships, address allowances, workloads and rest and consider building rehabilitation center(s) for psycho-therapeutic wellness of the priests. A policy should be made to ensure equitable shared pastoral responsibilities and resources for priests. There is need to adopt mental health as a unit in the seminary curriculum’s initial formation. There is also need to encourage psycho-education for mental self-care, have general health updates, reconciliation, and community living between the older and younger priests.