Prayer Addiction and Psycho-Spiritual Wellbeing among the Selected Female Religious Congregation in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the possible relationship between prayer addiction and psycho-spiritual well-being among the selected female religious congregation in Nigeria. George Engels's biopsychosocial-spiritual theory guides this study. The study employed an embedded mixed-method research design. The quantitative data was collected using the Prayer Attitude and Addiction Test and the Psycho-Spiritual Wellbeing Scale, and was analyzed with descriptive tools and inferential statistics (Pearson Correlation) using Statistical Package for the Social Science using the Statistical Package for the Social Science. The census method was used, involving 325 participants. The key findings from the quantitative study revealed that (1) 1 in every 12 female religious is addicted to prayer, (2) the majority of the female religious exhibit a high level of psycho-spiritual wellbeing, (3) there exists a very weak positive but non-significant correlation (r = 0.051, p = 0.443) between prayer addiction and psycho-spiritual well-being. However, there is a strong significant correlation between prayer attitude and prayer addiction r(228) = .181, p = .006 two-tailed; and prayer attitude and psycho-spiritual wellbeing r(228) = .300, p = .000 two-tailed. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect qualitative data from nine sisters selected purposively and presented with narrative analysis. The narrative accounts highlighted a shallow understanding of prayer addiction, with a predominant rejection of excessive or compulsive prayer practices among the sisters and emphasizing a balanced and integrated approach to prayer. The study concludes that while prayer is a lifestyle of the female religious, there is an 8% likelihood of slipping into prayer addiction, which may affect other areas of their lives. Notwithstanding, their high positive attitude to prayers equally boosts their psycho-spiritual wellbeing. Also, their prayer attitude does not typically cause psycho-spiritual consequences. The preventative measures against prayer addiction proposed by the participants include spiritual formation, spiritual direction, counselling, community support, and heritage.