PSYCHO-SOCIAL VARIABLES AND ADJUSTMENT TO WIDOWHOOD AMONG MEMBERS OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Keywords:
Nigeria, Lutheran Church, Widowhood, Adjustment, Mental health, Peer support, Community support, Emotional supportAbstract
This study investigated the extent to which emotional support, community support, peer support, and mental health predict adjustment to widowhood among members of the Lutheran Church in Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, Nigeria. A correlational research design was adopted, with a population of 2,548 widowed members. A sample of 320 participants was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires (Psycho-social Variables Questionnaire and Adjustment to Widowhood Questionnaire), validated by experts and achieving a Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.87. Simple linear regression was used for data analysis, with hypotheses tested at .05 significance level. Findings revealed that emotional support significantly predicted adjustment to widowhood (R² = 0.663, p < .05), accounting for 66.3% of the variance (very high extent); community support significantly predicted adjustment (R² = 0.337, p < .05), accounting for 33.7% of the variance (moderate extent); peer support significantly predicted adjustment (R² = 0.435, p < .05), accounting for 43.5% of the variance (high extent); and mental health significantly predicted adjustment (R² = 0.691, p < .05), accounting for 69.1% of the variance (very high extent). All four null hypotheses were rejected. The study concluded that emotional support, community support, peer support, and mental health are significant psycho-social predictors of widowhood adjustment, with mental health and emotional support demonstrating the strongest predictive power. Recommendations include establishing structured emotional support systems, strengthening community support structures, developing peer support mentoring programmes, and integrating mental health education into church counselling services.Downloads
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