Relationship between Positive Living and Social Support among Perpetually Professed Consecrated Women in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Positive living and social support are crucial factors that possibly enhance the wellbeing of perpetually professed consecrated women as they endeavor to serve God and humanity. This research attempted to investigate the relationship between positive living and social support among perpetually professed consecrated women in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya. The study addressed four objectives; to examine the levels of positive living, to investigate the levels of social support, to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics and positive living, and to establish the relationship between positive living and social support among perpetually professed consecrated women in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya. The participants were 320 perpetually professed consecrated women. The study used the correlational research design. It used proportionate stratified random sampling technique and simple random sampling technique. Positive Living Scale and Berlin Social Support Scale were used. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Findings revealed that 54.8% (n = 176) of the respondents scored a high level of positive living, 34.6% (n = 110) of the respondents scored a moderate level of positive living, while 10.6% (n = 34) had a low level of positive living. On social support, findings showed 48.4% (n = 151) of the participants had a high level of social support, 44.6% (n = 144) scored a moderate level of social support, while 7% (n = 25) of the participants were at a low level of social support. The study established that there was a weak positive relationship between positive living and social support among perpetually professed consecrated women in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya (r = .104; P = .042). The study recommended that superiors of religious communities may try to be physically available, and also be ready to listen to their members and be able to understand them in order to enhance good emotional wellbeing that may enhance positive living. The study further recommended that the perpetually professed consecrated women in the Archdiocese of Nairobi Kenya, who were at low and moderate levels of positive living and social support, may be helped in counseling and psychological assessments so as to identify issues that could be responsible for low and moderate levels.