Experiences of psychological well-being of Vietnamese religious sisters of the Congregation of Daughters of Mary of Can Tho in VIetnam

• Main Author: Nguyen, Hang Thanh
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Subjects: Nuns—Vietnam—Psychology; Happiness; Happiness—Religious aspects; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6818
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study explored the experiences of PWB/ happiness of 15 sisters of the Congregation of Daughter of Mary (CDM) from the following aspects: Their experiences of and the factors that influenced happiness. Five participants from each of the three stages of formation (novitiate, juniorate, and seniority stages) participated in the study. The researcher employed a qualitative research design using in-depth interview and case studies to collect data. The findings of the study revealed that participants from the three stages experienced happiness through the achievement of their goals, having peace of mind, and harmonious family. However, they differed in some experiences. Novice sisters experienced happiness through prayer life and a feeling of belongingness. Junior sisters were happy in terms of apostolate activities and positive feeling. Senior sisters were happy in terms of community life and self-satisfaction. The study also showed similarities in terms of the factors that contribute to happiness: self-esteem, good relationship with others, support from others, opportunities for education, spiritual direction, and prayer life. However, for novices, experiences of freedom is the factor that facilitate their happiness; for juniors it was a commitment to apostolate activities and self-acceptance and age for senior sisters. Anxiety, physical problems, low self-esteem, and lack of support and understanding from formator/superior were the common hindering factors experienced by all the participants. The factor that hindered happiness for novices was fear of authority, lack of prayer for the juniors, and difficulties in obedience for the seniors.