Spirituality, emotional maturity, sense of commitment and self-actualization of postulants and novices of St. Ann's Society, India

• Main Author: Alookaran, Mary Lynn , D.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 1993
• Subjects: Spirituality; Monastic and religious life; Emotional maturity; Self-actualization (Psychology); Commitment (Psychology); St Ann's Society; India; Counseling
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1690
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study investigates the level of spirituality, emotional maturity, sense of commitment, and self-actualization of three groups of formandis of st. Ann's Society in India. It also finds out if there is a significant difference between groups across the formation stages. Nineteen postulants, 14 first year novices, and 11 second year novices participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Selected manifestative factors of Religious Motivation Index (RMI) and Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) were the instruments used. Means and standard deviation were computed to determine the level of spirituality, emotional maturity, sense of commitment, and self-actualization of the groups under study. One-way ANOVA and pairwise comparisons were employed to find out if there existed significant difference between groups as well as across the stages of formation. The findings revealed no significant differences among groups in terms of spirituality factors. All groups were above average in their spirituality. Existentiality, one of the factors, differed significantly between the two groups of novices. A significant difference was observed between postulants and second year novices in terms of decision-making, a factor determining emotional maturity. Self-regard, a scale of affective maturity, differed significantly between the postulants and either (1) the second year novices or (2) the groups of novices. Postulants and first year novices differed significantly in vocation, a factor of commitment. It was in the vocation factor where the first year novices scored higher than the others. In the apostolic commitment factor, postulants scored higher than the novices' groups. The postulants differed significantly from the second year novices in self-actualization subscales of time competence, inner directedness, and nature of man. Although formative training in successive stages did not increase the sense of commitment in formandis, it was considered effective in enhancing their decision-making skill and efforts at self-actualization. It is recommended that the revision of the formation program be focused on special programs that will enhance the emotional, apostolic interests, and sense of commitment of the formandis.