Cognitive and Psychopathological Profile on Catholic Nuns in Puerto Rico: An exploratory study

José R Rodríguez-Gómez,Stephanie Vega Molina

doi:10.37226/rcp.v4i2.4123

Abstract

Introduction: The vocation of Catholic nun has spread virtually throughout the world for hundreds of years. The purpose of this pioneer nun study in Puerto Rico is to generate a comprehensive cognitive and psychopathological profile in a particular sample that usually shares a similar environment and lifestyle. Even though, nuns have been studied in the United States and other parts of the world, no known study conducted with Puerto Rican nuns has been found in local academic databases explored in the last ten years using the subject keywords (i.e., Puerto Rican Nuns) in data search. Method: The sample consists of 25 female catholic nuns, residents in Puerto Rico, with a median age of 60.96 years old (SD= 17.594; RANGE= 61). A Non-probability sampling method was utilized to retrieve the participants. Instruments: Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Hopelessness Inventory (BHS), Symptom Checklist 90-R and Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Findings: Significant findings among BDI-II results (t=2.377, p<.05), BHS results (t=34.671, p<.05) and Mini-mental examination (t=16.613, p<.05). An ANOVA was conducted evaluate significant differences among the subscales of the 90-Symptom Checklist Significant differences were found. Conclusion: Results suggest that symptoms of psychopathology are present predominantly at a minimal level. However, mild to moderate results were also found. Nuns in the sample showed high cognitive functioning and were capable of performing the tasks assigned. Future research may include a bigger sample and comparisons among cloistered and apostolic nuns. A mixed methodology is suggested.

Highlights

The place of women in a religious setting is complicated and has many different facets, depending on the time, place, and a myriad of socio-cultural details belonging to a specific geographic region
“As a particular group of women living a specific way of life within the broader context of religion, catholic nuns have largely been under-researched in the social sciences” (Brock, 2013)
The population consisted of 25 Catholic Nuns of an identifiable, officially approved, and recognized religious congregation in Puerto Rico

Summary

Introduction

The place of women in a religious setting is complicated and has many different facets, depending on the time, place, and a myriad of socio-cultural details belonging to a specific geographic region. The vocation of Catholic nun has spread virtually throughout the world for hundreds of years. Out of this drift, several orders have been established, which have particular characteristics and responsibilities. Several orders have been established, which have particular characteristics and responsibilities In most cases, these are influenced by a saint, holy person, or by a specific set of cultural characteristics or spiritually significant geographic locations. The nun believes that one must take responsibility for one’s own life and the spiritual practice of others in the church. The church has been instrumental in shaping the individual roles of these women and has implemented a subjective discipline based on clerical and canonical law members of the church with their aid through them (Rose, 1996)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion