Abstract:
This study examined the relationship between grief and post-traumatic growth (PTG), as
well as the moderating effects of spirituality, religious commitment, and trauma on this
relationship. The PTG domains of life appreciation, new possibilities, personal strength,
spiritual development, and interpersonal relationships, as well as the PTG total score, were
evaluated. 450 widows were selected from the North, Central, and South Tongu Districts
of the Volta Region of Ghana. Data was collected using the PTGI Inventory, the Religious
Commitment Inventory (RCI-10), the Brief Grief Questionnaire, and the Posttraumatic
Checklist (PCL-5). A Correlation Matrix and descriptive statistics were used for interconstruct
correlation among latent variables. A Structural Equation Model was performed
for each hypothesis based on independent and dependent variables. A path analysis was
conducted for the effects of the variables. Grief and PTG were positively related.
Positively, spirituality moderated the relationship between grief and PTG. However,
religious commitment and trauma moderated the relationship between grief and PTG in a
negative manner. This study contributes to the understanding of how spiritual and religious
factors influence the grieving process and subsequent growth in widowed individuals. The
findings can inform interventions and support strategies for this vulnerable population. It
was suggested, among other things, that traditional widowhood administrators should also
be schooled on the positive aspects of the widowhood practise that bring about a positive
development in women
Description:
A thesis/dissertation/project in the Department of Counselling Psychology,
Faculty of Educational Studie, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
(Guidance and Counselling)
in the University of Education, Winneba
