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01-08-2014 | Original Paper

Personal Spiritual Values and Quality of Life: Evidence from Chinese College Students

Authors: Kaili Chen Zhang, C. Harry Hui, Jasmine Lam, Esther Yuet Ying Lau, Shu-fai Cheung, Doris Shui Ying Mok

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 4/2014

Abstract

Values are guiding principles in our life. While some studies found spiritual values to be “healthier,” Sagiv and Schwartz (Eur J Soc Psychol 30:177–198, 2000) showed that people holding non-spiritual values were higher on affective well-being. We examined the predictive power of these two types of values with a longitudinal data set collected from Chinese students mainly in Hong Kong. Structural equation modeling revealed that spiritual values (as well as family income) positively predicted quality of life a year later. Non-spiritual, self-enhancement values, did not show any association. Results suggest that developing spiritual values may promote well-being through enabling individuals to find meaning and purpose in life.

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This model did not meet the stringent criteria of model testing, χ ² = 605.14, df = 239, p < .001; RMSEA = .05 (90 % CI = .05–.06); Cfit p = .32; CFI = .90; SRMR = .05. However, the paths linking religion to spiritual values and QoL were not significant, while the path coefficient from spiritual values to QoL was unchanged.

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Title: Personal Spiritual Values and Quality of Life: Evidence from Chinese College Students
Authors: Kaili Chen Zhang
C. Harry Hui
Jasmine Lam
Esther Yuet Ying Lau
Shu-fai Cheung
Doris Shui Ying Mok
Publication date: 01-08-2014
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 4/2014
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9686-1

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Personal Spiritual Values and Quality of Life: Evidence from Chinese College Students

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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