Religiosity, Coping, and Psychological Wellbeing Among Bereaved Parents in Kogi State

This study examines the relationships among religiosity, coping styles, and psychological wellbeing among parents who have experienced the death of a child in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria. Child loss is among the most psychologically devastating life events, and in Nigerian cultural contexts, religious frameworks and community-based mourning rituals play a central role in the grief process. This research employed a cross-sectional survey design involving 195 bereaved parents recruited from hospitals, churches, and mosques in Lokoja and Ankpa. Religiosity was assessed using the Duke University Religion Index, coping through the Brief COPE Scale, and psychological wellbeing using the General Health Questionnaire and the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Structural equation modelling explored direct and mediated pathways. Results indicate that intrinsic religiosity, characterised by sincere personal faith rather than social conformity, was positively associated with post-traumatic growth and adaptive coping. Religious coping mediated the relationship between religiosity and psychological wellbeing, while spiritual community support emerged as an independent predictor. Avoidant coping strategies were inversely associated with wellbeing regardless of religiosity levels. The study recommends that bereavement counsellors working in Kogi State incorporate spiritual dimensions into their clinical practice and design culturally sensitive grief support programmes that complement existing religious coping resources. Keywords: religiosity, coping, psychological wellbeing, bereaved parents, Kogi State.