EXTRAPOLATIVE EFFECTS OF SOME PSYCHO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON HOLISTIC WELLNESS OF ANGLICAN COMMUNION PRIESTS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the composite and relative effects of some psychosocial factors: age, social desirability, workplace social support, spirituality, social intelligence, educational qualification and pastoral experience on holistic wellness of Anglican Priests in Southwest, Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design of the ex-post facto type. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 600 Anglican priests from the six states of the Southwest Nigeria. Six instruments were used namely: 5FWel Inventory (a = 0.90), Job Satisfaction Scale (Ii =0.91), Multi-Dimensional Support scale (Ii = 0.87), Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (a = 0.94), Social Desirability Scale (a = 0.68) and the Tromso Social Intelligence Scale (a =0.90). Three research questions were answered. Data were analysed using Multiple Regression and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation. Findings revealed that there was a significant relationship between the independent variables and holistic wellness of the priests: age (r =0.134; p<0.05), educational qualification (r =0.138; p<0.05), pastoral experience, (,,=0.187; p<0.05), social desirability (r=().169; p<0.05), workplace social support fr=0.459, p<0.05), social int~l!igence (r=0.740; p<0.05) and spirituality (r=0.543; p<0.05). There was also a significant effect of independent variables on holistic wellness (F (8,590) = 307.58; p<O.05). Six of the iiuJependentvariables made significant relative contribution to holistic wellness of the priests: Social intelligence (a =0.437; t=18.423; p<0.05), job satisfaction (a = 0.436; t=18.07; p<0.05), spirituality (a = 0.167; t=7.947; p<0.05), educational qualification (a=0.097; t =5.234; p<0;05), age (a=0.093,· t=4.198, p<O.05) and social desirability (a=O.089; t=4.665; p<O.05). Psychosocial factors are predictive of holistic wellness among the priests. Hence it is recommended that the wellness of the priests should be taken seriously by everybody so as to boost their effectiveness on their pastoral duty for moral development of the society.