The lived experience of membership in a lay Catholic community and its impact on psychological well-being

Abstract

The research investigates how the experience of membership within a lay Catholic community impacts one’s psychological well-being (PWB). Six participants were chosen from amongst three different Maltese lay Catholic communities. The age of the participants varied between 23 and 30 years. The analysis of the data was implemented using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four major themes emerged through this analysis: Group Membership and Relationships, Intra-Group Support, Group Membership and the Self, and Challenging Aspects of the Group. Most of the mediators that linked membership with PWB were positive. Therefore, membership within a lay Catholic community was perceived by the participants as having a positive impact on their PWB. This research sheds new light on the impact of religion on the PWB within the Maltese context.