Investigation of the Relationship Between Spiritual Wellbeing and Mental Health Among Adults in Kano State

Spiritual wellbeing is an important dimension of holistic mental health, and its relationship to psychological functioning in predominantly Muslim northern Nigerian communities has received inadequate empirical attention in the counselling literature. This study examined the relationship between spiritual wellbeing and mental health among adults in Kano Municipal Local Government Area, Kano State, North West Nigeria. A correlational survey was conducted among 280 adults aged 20 to 55, recruited from four community centres and two mosques through convenience sampling. The Spiritual Wellbeing Scale adapted for Muslim contexts and the Mental Health Inventory-38 were administered. Pearson correlation, regression analysis, and independent samples t-tests were applied. Results showed a significant positive correlation between spiritual wellbeing and overall mental health (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). The existential wellbeing subscale was the strongest predictor of positive mental health (beta = 0.48, p < 0.001). Spiritual wellbeing significantly buffered the effect of life stressors on anxiety and depression scores. Individuals with higher religious practice frequency showed significantly higher spiritual and mental wellbeing scores. Gender differences in spiritual wellbeing were not significant. The study concludes that spiritual wellbeing is a meaningful dimension of mental health in this population. Recommendations include integrating spirituality-sensitive counselling approaches into mental health practice in Kano, training counsellors in religiously informed therapeutic frameworks, and recognising spiritual resources in community mental health programming. Keywords: spiritual wellbeing, mental health, adults, Kano State, spiritually sensitive counselling