INFLUENCE OF RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT AND LOCUS OF CONTROL ON MENTAL HEALTH AMONG PARISHIONERS OF CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION ASOKORO, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the influence of religious commitment and locus of control on mental health among Parishioners
of the Church of the Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria. The conceptualisation of the different variables was
sufficiently given, underscoring the propelling factor(s) behind the research. A sample of two hundred and seventy
(270) participants took part in the study. Three instruments were used to collect data from participants, namely: the
Religious Commitment Scale, Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale, and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Three
hypotheses were tested, and the collected data were analysed using inferential and descriptive statistics.
Accordingly, Pearson’s correlation was used to examine the relationship between the independent variables and
dependent variables, while hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to test the prediction of mental health by
religious commitment and locus of control. The between-subject effects of religious commitment and locus of control
on mental health were determined using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). After testing the study hypotheses, the
study findings are: there was a significant negative association between religious commitment and mental health;
there was a significant positive association between locus of control and mental health; and religious commitment
and locus of control had significant independent and joint effects on mental health among Parishioners of the Church
of the Assumption Asokoro, Abuja. Based on the findings, it is recommended that mental health professionals should
endeavour to create an appropriate therapeutic environment that allows the involvement of religious experts or the
clergy in the care of clients with strong religious inclinations.
Keywords: religious commitment, locus of control, mental health and parishioners