Psychospiritual interventions and perceived psychological adjustment among childless catholic couples: Bugonga, Entebbe, Wakiso - Uganda

Abstract

The study was carried out to establish the relationship between participation in perceived psychospiritual interventions and the psychological adjustment of catholic childless couples in Bugonga Parish Entebbe municipality. The objectives of the study aimed at assessing the effect of emotional interventions on the perceived psychological adjustment of childless couples, analysing the contribution of cognitive interventions on the perceived psychological adjustment of childless couples and evaluating the effect of religious interventions on the perceived psychological adjustment of childless couples in Bugonga Parish. The study adopted a case study design. Using simple random sampling, purposive and convenient sampling, a sample of 225 was selected to participate in the study. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview guide and focus group discussions. Quantitative data was analyzed using inferential statistics while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Study findings revealed a correlation coefficient of (R= .971, p <0.01) indicating a positive, very strong and statistically significant effect of emotional interventions on perceived psychological adjustment, another correlation coefficient of (R= .961, p <0.01) reflecting a positive, very strong and statistically significant contribution of cognitive interventions on perceived psychological adjustment, and a correlation coefficient of (R= .955, p <0.01) depicting a positive, very strong and statistically significant effect of religious interventions on perceived psychological adjustment. On emotional interventions the study concluded that attending counselling sessions is crucial for enhancing communication among childless couples. Even being part of a charity group can help childless couples to discover their purpose in life and to build self-esteem. Marriage counselling is instrumental for childless couples to plan together for the future, coupled with marriage seminars for the improvement of communication. On cognitive interventions similar interest groups are critical in bringing about society enhancement so as to avoid self-pity and raising hope. Support groups also help them to cope up with the situation of failure to have a child. On spiritual intervention healing prayers can also give hope to childless couples together with marriage retreats to deal with challenges in their intimacy. Even religious rituals could promote self-esteem among childless couples, along with common prayers to enable them to remain hopeful. On emotional interventions the study recommended that attending counselling sessions and being part of a charity group should be emphasized so that childless couples/ individuals may discover their purpose in life and build self-esteem. Charity groups should be formed so as to enable childless couples to be generous to under privileged children in society. Child adoption was encouraged to raise wellness among childless couples as this could lead to their positive attitude and promote intimacy. On cognitive interventions it recommended that marriage counselling be done to enable childless couples to plan together for the future and marriage seminars to improve communication among childless couples. Arrangements to promote similar interest groups that are instrumental in bringing about society enhancement be done so as to avoid self-pity and raise their hope in order to cope with the situation of failure to have a child. On spiritual interventions it recommended that healing prayers that give hope to childless couples be organised as well as marriage retreats to equip them with ways of dealing with the challenges in their intimacy, along with promoting of religious rituals so as to enhance self-esteem among these childless couples.