Investigation of the Relationship between Spiritual Wellbeing and Perceived Ethnic Discrimination among Emerging Adults at College of Business and Economics, Addis Ababa University
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2024-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between Spiritual Well-being (SWB) and Perceived Ethnic Discrimination (PED) among emerging adults of Addis Ababa University, College of Business, and Economics (CBE), at two-time points: in 2021 and 2024. The study primarily employed a quantitative method supported by qualitative. A stratified random sampling procedure was used to select 282 (M=189, F=93) participants in 2021, and 280 (M 190=, F=90) in 2024. The Spiritual Well-Being (SWB) and Perceived Ethnic Discrimination (PED) scales along with open-ended questions were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive, inferential statistics and content analysis procedures. The findings revealed a moderate, negative correlation between SWB and PED at both time points (2021: rs = -0.469, p < 0.01; 2024: rs = -0.445, p < 0.01). It suggests that higher levels of SWB were associated with lower levels of PED. For SWB, a statistically significant difference was observed in 2024 based on the living area before university enrollment (p = 0.041). Although differences among language-speaking groups approached significance (p = 0.050), pairwise comparisons revealed no significant group variations. For PED, significant differences were observed in 2024 across gender (p = 0.007), living area before university enrollment (p < 0.001), and language/mother tongue (p = 0.007). However, pairwise comparisons did not reveal meaningful variations among specific groups. The study revealed that the majority of the participants often used spiritual coping mechanisms to buffer the negative effects of ethnic discrimination. In contrast, some expressed existential concerns, eroded hope; and questioned meaning and purpose in life. The findings also exhibited the inverse relationship between SWB and PED, emphasizing spirituality serving as a protective shield against the adverse effects of ethnic discrimination.
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Investigation of the Relationship between Spiritual