Relationship of religious commitment and post traumatic growth: moderating role of gender

Abstract

This study investigated relationship of religious commitment and post traumatic growth (PIG); as well as the moderating role of gender on religious commitment-PIG relationship. Religious commitment was considered as both intrapersonal and interpersonal in form. PIG was examined through its domains: appreciation of life, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual growth and relationship with others, including the composite score of PIG. Participants were 478 students (Mage = 24.37; Females = 246, Males = 232) of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku in south-south region of Nigeria, who completed the 10-item Religious Commitment Inventory (RCI - 10) and PIG Inventory. Pearson's correlations and Hierarchical Multiple Regression were used in data analysis. Intrapersonal religious commitment was positively related to PIG and its domains, except appreciation of life. Interpersonal religious commitment was positively related to all domains of PIG. Gender moderated the relationship between intrapersonal religious commitment and new possibilities, personal strength and spiritual growth but no moderation by gender were found in the relationship between intrapersonal religious commitment and appreciation of life, relationship with others and PIG total. Moderation by gender was found for only the relationship between interpersonal religious commitment and appreciation of life. Mental health promotion efforts in finding benefits from trauma should recognise the interactive role of gender on some religious commitment-PIG relations.