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When suffering contradicts belief: measuring theodical struggling
Crystal L Park1, Eric J Silverman2, Shane J Sacco3
1Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT USA.
Current Psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.)
|June 26, 2023
Summary
Religious individuals may struggle when suffering conflicts with beliefs about God. This study developed the Theodical Struggling Scale to measure psychological distress arising from such belief-experience conflicts in Christians.
Area of Science:
- Psychology of Religion
- Clinical Psychology
- Theological Studies
Background:
- Global meaning systems help individuals interpret experiences, but suffering can disrupt these systems.
- Conflict between suffering and beliefs about God's attributes (loving, powerful, just) can cause distress.
- The psychological impact of theodicy (explaining suffering) on religious individuals facing adversity is under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a psychological scale measuring the construct of theodical struggling within Christianity.
- To provide a tool for understanding how religious individuals cope with suffering that challenges their faith.
Main Methods:
- Drew upon philosophy, Christian theology, and psychology to conceptualize theodical struggling.
- Developed an initial 28-item pool and conducted cognitive interviews with Christian adults.
- Used principal component analysis (PCA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) across three online studies to refine the scale to 11 items.
Main Results:
- The scale was reduced to 11 items, demonstrating a strong one-factor solution.
- The Theodical Struggling Scale showed preliminary reliability and validity.
- The scale effectively captures ruptures in beliefs about God's goodness due to suffering.
Conclusions:
- The Theodical Struggling Scale is a validated instrument for assessing psychological distress related to theodicy.
- This scale offers a new avenue for research into the intersection of faith, suffering, and mental well-being in religious populations.
- Future research can utilize this scale to explore theodical struggling across different religious traditions and life circumstances.
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