Faith Practices as Predictors of Emotional Resilience: Evidence from Kenyan Adolescents.

This study examines the relationship between personal faith practices and subjective wellbeing among secondary school students in Kasarani Constituency, Nairobi, guided by Self Determination Theory (Legault, 2017), Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages Theory (1950), Organismic Integration Theory (Gerstenberg et al., 2023), and Frankl’s Meaning Making Theory (2006). An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed, combining quantitative surveys with 297 students and qualitative interviews with 17 participants. Quantitative analysis revealed significant positive correlations between faith practices and both life satisfaction and positive affect. Prayer emerged as the most common practice, followed by scripture reading. Qualitative narratives highlighted themes of emotional relief, intimacy with God, spiritual guidance, and inner peace, underscoring the role of faith practices in resilience and emotional regulation. Conversely, disengagement from prayer was linked to spiritual fatigue, unmet expectations, and social alienation. The study concludes that personal faith practices contribute meaningfully to adolescent wellbeing by enhancing resilience and life satisfaction.
The study recommends integrating individualized spiritual support into school based mental health strategies, enriching discourse on spiritual coping and highlighting the value of internalized religiosity in promoting holistic wellbeing.

faith practices, prayer, scripture reading, emotional regulation

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