Interpersonal values, stress level and coping strategies of selected religious in temporary vows: A cross-gender study

• Main Author: Cañeda, Grace O., FFM
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Profession (in religious orders, congregations, etc.); Stress (Psychology)—Religious aspects; Ethics in Religion; Religious Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5881; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/12738/viewcontent/CDTG004448_F_Partial.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between interpersonal values and stress appraisal of women and men religious who are in their first three years of temporary vows. It also sought to know what are the perceived sources of stress and the different coping strategies of these women and men religious. This study employed the descriptive correlational research design using The Circumplex Scales of Interpersonal Values (CSIV), The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and The COPE Inventory and was guided by two theoretical orientations: Lazarus’s theory of stress appraisal and interpersonal values theory. The respondents consist of 30 Filipino women and 30 Filipino men religious in temporary vows from different active religious congregations in Metro Manila and Cavite, Philippines. No statistically significant difference was found in the interpersonal values which mean that both groups share the same values such as independence, control, intimacy, nurturance and so on in their interpersonal relationships. No significant difference was found for the level of stress between the two groups. The findings indicated that women and men religious did not differ in their perception of stress but differed in the amount of daily stress experienced with women reporting greater exposure to daily stress. Women religious assume multi-roles and multi-tasks in communities and in the apostolate more than their male counterparts. While many of these roles and activities are fulfilling, they can add up to a significant amount of stress. Women and men religious manage stress differently. Women religious often seek support to talk out the emotional experience, to process what is happening and what might be done. Men religious often seek an escape activity to get relief from stress, to create a relaxing diversion, to get away. This study showed that men are more likely to report using problem-focused coping strategies and women emotion-focused coping strategies. Both formators/animators and young religious should keep guard against the following as these, too, effect stress: inconsistencies between values proclaimed and actual attitudes and behaviors, psychological projection, transference and counter-transference reactions. When done properly, this helps a formator to understand and find a connection between the young religious’ past and how the young religious misreads the present and may react ineffectively. Values are a more convenient target of change interventions than either implicit assumptions or behaviors. Therefore, interpersonal values are a potentially useful construct for understanding and enhancing interpersonal interactions. Clarifying the interpersonal values associated with different problems may help formators and women and men religious refine the focus of interventions. Data on such concepts as interpersonal values, stress level and their coping strategies can help persons charged with the task of formation to identify specific areas for growth of the individual persons in religious life. Good quality fraternal relationships are meant to facilitate the higher purpose of living the vision and mission of the group rather than providing a comfortable venue for relational satisfaction.