PASTORAL CARE AND OPERATIONAL STRESS AMONG NAVAL PERSONNEL IN EASTERN NAVAL COMMAND, CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated pastoral care influence on operational stress control among Combat Troops of Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A survey research design was used for the study. The population consisted of 2145 Combat Troops in the Eastern Naval Command, as at when the study was carried out. Purposive sampling technique was adopted in selecting a sample size of 322 Combat Troops. Data were generated through a well-structured and validated questionnaire designed to elicit information from the respondents. Cronbach alpha reliability analysis was used to test the reliability of the instrument which range from 0.733 to 0.809. Data collected was analyzed using independent t-test at 0.05 level of significance and 320 degrees of freedom. The result of the analysis showed that, preaching of the word and chaplain’s weekly individual and group counselling influenced operational stress control in Eastern Naval Command. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that, chaplains should seek possible ways to encourage combat troops to be more engage in spiritual exercises and providing holistic pastoral counselling to reduce operational stress.