Effects of Repeated Exposure Disenfranchised Grief on Psychological Well Being of Chaplains in Private Hospital in Bomet County, Kenya.

Author: Beatrice Chelangat, Prof. Jennifer Munyua, Dr. Esther Chepsiro

Date: 2025

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of death on chaplains’ psychological wellbeing in Private Hospital, Bomet County, Kenya. This was in light of concern that chaplains in hospitals are not expected to display highly charged emotions in the face of death and for the sake of others. The study was guided by the following objectives: to evaluate the psychological effects of repeated exposure to death and loss on chaplains working in hospital setting; to identify the coping mechanisms employed by chaplains when faced with grief and loss in undertaking their role in helping grieving clients; To examine the existing support structures and resources available to chaplains in dealing with bereavement and to understand the training and support needs of chaplains regarding bereavement counseling and psychological resilience. The study was guided by, Attachment Theory by John Bowlby, task of Mourning and Family dynamic theory. To address the research problem, the researcher used ex post facto research design. The study target 36 hospital chaplains in private hospital, Bomet County, Kenya. Census approach was employed in which all the chaplains were involved in the study. The study use primary data in which data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data collected was subjected to quantitative data was analyzed in both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics were presented in form of frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation. Multiple regression analysis was employed to test the hypotheses. Regression analyses revealed that repeated grief exposure had a modest negative effect on well-being, while individualized coping mechanisms significantly enhanced psychological resilience (R² = 0.267, Beta = 0.517, p < .001). Hospital support structures were the strongest predictor of well-being (R² = 0.397, Beta = 0.630, p < .001), highlighting the critical role of institutional resources, including counseling services, peer networks, and wellness programs. Training and support programs also positively influenced chaplains’ mental health (R² = 0.133, Beta = 0.364, p < .001), though to a lesser extent. The study concluded that disenfranchised grief has a statistical and significant influence on the psychological well being of chaplains working in the hospital settings. The study recommended for integrated personal, professional, and organizational interventions to sustain chaplains’ psychological well-being in grief-intensive hospital settings.

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