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Clarifying the relation between spirituality and well-being
Lori Migdal1, Douglas A MacDonald
1Department of Psychology, University of Detroit Mercy, MI, USA.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|March 30, 2013
Summary
Spirituality measures may inaccurately link to health due to overlap with well-being. This study found existential well-being is distinct from spirituality, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Sociology of Religion
Background:
- Measures of spirituality used in health research may be confounded with well-being.
- Previous assertions suggest spirituality and well-being are conceptually intertwined, potentially distorting findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the claim that spirituality measures are confounded with well-being.
- To explore the relationship between a multidimensional model of spirituality and various forms of well-being.
- To examine the association of spirituality and well-being with social desirability.
Main Methods:
- Utilized correlational and regression analyses.
- Sample comprised 247 university students.
- Assessed a multidimensional model of spirituality, different forms of well-being, and a two-factor model of social desirability.
Main Results:
- Found a generally low effect size association between spirituality and well-being, varying by spirituality definition.
- Existential well-being showed minimal correlation with spiritual/religious variables.
- Existential well-being's associations with well-being and social desirability suggest it is a form of well-being, not spirituality.
Conclusions:
- The conceptual overlap between spirituality and well-being requires careful consideration in health research.
- Existential well-being should be classified as a component of well-being rather than spirituality.
- Future research should refine the conceptualization and measurement of spirituality in relation to health outcomes.
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