Top

Published in:

01-06-2015 | Original Paper

Spirituality and Positive Psychology Go Hand in Hand: An Investigation of Multiple Empirically Derived Profiles and Related Protective Benefits

Authors: Yakov A. Barton, Lisa Miller

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 3/2015

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between personal spirituality and positive psychology traits as potentially presented in multiple profiles, rather than monolithically across a full sample. A sample of 3966 adolescents and emerging adults (aged 18–25, mean = 20.19, SD = 2.08) and 2014 older adults (aged 26–82, mean = 38.41, SD = 11.26) completed a survey assessing daily spiritual experiences (relationship with a Higher Power and sense of a sacred world), forgiveness, gratitude, optimism, grit, and meaning. To assess the relative protective benefits of potential profiles, we also assessed the level of depressive symptoms and frequency of substance use (tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and heavy alcohol use). Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to examine common subgroupings of study participants across report on personal spirituality and positive psychology scales in each age cohort, with potential difference between latent classes then tested in level of depressive symptoms and degree of substance use. LCA determined a four-class and a three-class best-fitting models for the younger and older cohorts, respectively. Level of personal spirituality and level of positive psychology traits were found to coincide in 83 % of adolescents and emerging adults and in 71 % of older adults, suggesting personal spirituality and positive psychology traits go hand in hand. A minority subgroup of “virtuous humanists” showed high levels of positive psychology traits but low levels of personal spirituality, across both age cohorts. Whereas level of depression was found to be inversely associated with positive psychology traits and personal spirituality, uniquely personal spirituality was protective against degree of substance use across both age cohorts. Overall interpretation of the study findings suggests that personal spirituality may be foundational to positive psychology traits in the majority of people.

Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55, 469–480.PubMedCrossRef

Barry, C. M., & Nelson, L. J. (2005). The role of religion in the transition to adulthood for young emerging adults. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 34(3), 245–255.CrossRef

Benson, P. L., Scales, P. C., Syvertsen, A. K., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2012). Is youth spiritual development a universal developmental process? An international exploration. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 7(6), 453–470.CrossRef

Berry, D. M., & York, K. (2011). Depression and religiosity and/or spirituality in college: A longitudinal survey of students in the USA. Nursing & health sciences, 13(1), 76–83.CrossRef

Beyers, W. C. J., & Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2008, March). Does identity precede intimacy? An Eriksonian approach to romantic development in emerging adulthood. Paper presented at the biennial meeting of the Society of Research in Adolescence, Chicago.

Bonelli, R., Dew, R. E., Koenig, H. G., Rosmarin, D. H., & Vasegh, S. (2012). Religious and spiritual factors in depression: Review and integration of the research. Depression Research and Treatment, 2012, 1–8.CrossRef

Braskamp, L. A. (2008). The religious and spiritual journeys of college students. In D. Jacobsen & R. H. Jacobsen (Eds.), The American university in a postsecular age (pp. 117–134). New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRef

Cowlishaw, S., Niele, S., Teshuva, K., Browning, C., & Kendig, H. (2013). Older adults’ spirituality and life satisfaction: A longitudinal test of social support and sense of coherence as mediating mechanisms. Ageing and Society, 33(07), 1243–1262.CrossRef

Desrosiers, A., Kelley, B. S., & Miller, L. (2011). Parent and peer relationships and relational spirituality in adolescents and young adults. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 3(1), 39.CrossRef

Desrosiers, A., & Miller, L. (2007). Relational spirituality and depression in adolescent girls. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63, 1021–1037.PubMedCrossRef

Dowling, E. M., Gestsdottir, S., Anderson, P. M., Von Eye, A., Almerigi, J., & Lerner, R. M. (2004). Structural relations among spirituality, religiosity, and thriving in adolescence. Applied Developmental Science, 8(1), 7–16.CrossRef

Duckworth, A. L., & Quinn, P. D. (2009). Development and validation of the Short Grit Scale (GRIT–S). Journal of Personality Assessment, 91(2), 166–174.PubMedCrossRef

Fabricatore, A. N., Handal, P. J., & Fenzel, L. M. (2000). Personal spirituality as a moderator of the relationship between stressors and subjective well-being. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 28, 221–228.

Falb, M. D., & Pargament, K. I. (2014). Religion, spirituality, and positive psychology: Strengthening well-being. In J. T. Pedrotti & L. M. Edwards (Eds.), Perspectives on the intersection of multiculturalism and positive psychology (pp. 143–157). The Netherlands: Springer.CrossRef

Fetzer Institute & National Institute on Aging Working Group. (1999). Multidimensional measurement of religiousness/spirituality for use in health research. Kalamazoo, MI: Fetzer Institute.

Fowler, J. W. (1981). Stages of faith. San Francisco: Harper & Row.

Geppert, C., Bogenschutz, M. P., & Miller, W. R. (2007). Development of a bibliography on religion, spirituality and addictions. Drug and alcohol review, 26(4), 389–395.PubMedCrossRef

Gnanaprakash, C. (2013). Spirituality and resilience among post-graduate university students. Journal of Health Management, 15(3), 383–396.CrossRef

Good, M., & Willoughby, T. (2008). Adolescence as a sensitive period for spiritual development. Child Development Perspectives, 2, 32–37.CrossRef

Gottlieb, B. H., Still, E., & Newby-Clark, I. R. (2007). Types and precipitants of growth and decline in emerging adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Research, 22(2), 132–155.CrossRef

Hardy, S. A., Pratt, M. W., Pancer, S. M., Olsen, J. A., & Lawford, H. L. (2010). Community and religious involvement as contexts of identity change across late adolescence and emerging adulthood. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 0165025410375920.

Hardy, S. A., Zhang, Z., Skalski, J. E., Melling, B. S., & Brinton, C. T. (2014). Daily religious involvement, spirituality, and moral emotions. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 6(4), 338.CrossRef

Inglehart, R., Basanez, M., Díez-Medrano, J., Halman, L., & Luijkx, R. (2004). Human beliefs and values: A cross-cultural sourcesbook based upon the 1999–2002 values surveys. Mexico City: Siglo Veintiuno Editores.

Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future, Inst. for Social Research. (2000). Monitoring the future national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 1999. Ann Arbor, MI: Monitoring the Future, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan

Jung, T., & Wickrama, K. A. S. (2008). An introduction to latent mixture modeling. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2, 302–317.CrossRef

Kelley, B. S., Athan, A. M., & Miller, L. F. (2007). Openness and spiritual development in adolescents. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 18, 3–33.

Kelley, B. S., & Miller, L. (2007). Life satisfaction and spirituality in adolescents. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 18, 233.CrossRef

Koenig, H. G. (2009). Research on religion, spirituality, and mental health: A review. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 54(5), 283–291.

Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. W. (2001). Validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16, 606–613.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Kub, J., & Solari-Twadell, P. A. (2013). Religiosity/spirituality and substance use in adolescence as related to positive development: A literature review. Journal of addictions nursing, 24(4), 247–262.PubMedCrossRef

Labbé, E. E., & Fobes, A. (2010). Evaluating the interplay between spirituality, personality and stress. Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback, 35(2), 141–146.PubMedCrossRef

Labouvie-Vief, G. (2006). Emerging structures of adult thought. In J. J. Arnett & J. L. Tanner (Eds.), Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century (pp. 59–84). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.CrossRef

Lee, K. H., Besthorn, F. H., Bolin, B. L., & Jun, J. S. (2012). Stress, spiritual, and support coping, and psychological well-being among older adults in assisted living. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 31(4), 328–347.CrossRef

Leigh, J., Bowen, S., & Marlatt, G. A. (2005). Spirituality, mindfulness and substance abuse. Addictive Behaviors, 30(7), 1335–1341.PubMedCrossRef

Marcia, J. E. (1980). Identity in adolescence. In J. Adelson (Ed.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 159–187). New York: Wiley.

Marques, S. C., Lopez, S. J., & Mitchell, J. (2013). The role of hope, spirituality and religious practice in adolescents’ life satisfaction: Longitudinal findings. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(1), 251–261.CrossRef

McCullough, M. E., Emmons, R. A., & Tsang, J. A. (2002). The grateful disposition: a conceptual and empirical topography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(1), 112.PubMedCrossRef

Miller, L., Davies, M., & Greenwald, S. (2000). Religiosity and substance use and abuse among adolescents in the NCS. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39, 1190–1197.PubMedCrossRef

Miller, L., & Gur, M. (2002). Religiosity, depression, and physical maturation in adolescent girls. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41, 206–214.PubMedCrossRef

Miller, L., Warner, V., Wickramaratne, P., & Weissman, M. (1997). Religiosity and depression: Ten-year follow-up of depressed mothers and offspring. Journal of the American Academy Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 36, 1416–1425.CrossRef

Miller, L., Wickramaratne, P., Gameroff, M. J., Sage, M., Tenke, C. E., & Weissman, M. M. (2012). Religiosity and major depression in adults at high risk: A ten-year prospective study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(1), 89–94.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2013). MPlus user’s guide (7th edn.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.

Nylund, K. L., Asparouhov, T., & Muthén, B. (2007). Deciding on the number of classes in latent class analysis and growth mixture modeling. A Monte Carlo simulation study. Structural Equation Modeling, 14, 535–569.CrossRef

Piedmont, R. L. (2009). The contribution of religiousness and spirituality to subjective wellbeing and satisfaction with life. In M. de Souza, L. J. Francis, J. O’Higgens-Norman, & D. Scott (Eds.), International handbook of education for spirituality, care and wellbeing (pp. 89–105). The Netherlands: Springer.CrossRef

Powers, C., Nam, R. K., Rowatt, W. C., & Hill, P. C. (2007). Associations between humility, spiritual transcendence, and forgiveness. Research in the social scientific study of religion, 18, 75.CrossRef

Rahmawati, S. (2014). Role of religiousness/spirituality in resilience of fisheries college cadets. Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology, 3(1), 31–40.

Regnerus, M. D. (2003). Religion and positive adolescent outcomes: A review of research and theory. Review of Religious Research, 44(4), 394–413.CrossRef

Rowold, J. (2011). Effects of spiritual well-being on subsequent happiness, psychological well-being, and stress. Journal of Religion and Health, 50(4), 950–963.PubMedCrossRef

Rye, M. S., Wade, N. G., Fleri, A. M., & Kidwell, J. E. (2013). The role of religion and spirituality in positive psychology interventions. In APA handbook of psychology, religion, and spirituality (pp. 481–508). American Psychological Association.

Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (1985). Optimism, coping, and health: Assessment and implications of generalized outcome expectancies. Health Psychology, 4, 219–247.PubMedCrossRef

Sowell, E. R., Trauner, D. A., Gamst, A., & Jernigan, T. L. (2002). Development of cortical and subcortical brain structures in childhood and adolescence: A structural MRI study. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 44, 4–16.PubMedCrossRef

Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93.CrossRef

Steinberg, L. (2005). Cognitive and affective development in adolescence. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9, 69–74.PubMedCrossRef

Trinidad, D. R., & Johnson, C. A. (2002). The association between emotional intelligence and early adolescent tobacco and alcohol use. Personality and Individual Differences, 32(1), 95–105.CrossRef

Tuck, I., & Anderson, L. (2014). Forgiveness, flourishing, and resilience: The influences of expressions of spirituality on mental health recovery. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 35(4), 277–282.PubMedCrossRef

Tugade, M. M., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2004). Resilient individuals use positive emotions to bounce back from negative emotional experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86(2), 320.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef

Walker, E. F., Sabuwalla, Z., & Huot, R. (2004). Pubertal neuromaturation, stress sensitivity, and psychopathology. Development and Psychopathology, 16, 807–824.PubMedCrossRef

Wink, P., Dillon, M., & Larsen, B. (2005). Religion as moderator of the depression-health connection findings from a longitudinal study. Research on Aging, 27(2), 197–220.CrossRef

Wong, Y. J., Rew, L., & Slaikeu, K. D. (2006). A systematic review of recent research on adolescent religiosity/spirituality and mental health. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 27(2), 161–183.PubMedCrossRef

Yonker, J. E., Schnabelrauch, C. A., & DeHaan, L. G. (2012). The relationship between spirituality and religiosity on psychological outcomes in adolescents and emerging adults: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Adolescence, 35(2), 299–314.PubMedCrossRef

Young, J. S., Cashwell, C. S., & Shcherbakova, J. (2000). The moderating relationship of spirituality on negative life events and psychological adjustment. Counseling and Values, 45, 49–57.CrossRef

Title: Spirituality and Positive Psychology Go Hand in Hand: An Investigation of Multiple Empirically Derived Profiles and Related Protective Benefits
Authors: Yakov A. Barton
Lisa Miller
Publication date: 01-06-2015
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 3/2015
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-015-0045-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Spirituality and Positive Psychology Go Hand in Hand: An Investigation of Multiple Empirically Derived Profiles and Related Protective Benefits

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 3/2015

Struggling with Alcoholism

Editor’s Introduction on the Special Section “Spirituality in Adolescents: The Hub of Mental Health and Positive Development”

The Importance of Terminal Values and Religious Experience of God’s Presence and God’s Absence in the Lives of University Students with Various Levels of Empathy

Which Cheek did the Resurrected Jesus Turn?

The Lay Health Educator Program: Evaluating the Impact of this Community Health Initiative on the Medical Education of Resident Physicians

Hiding the Word: Examining the Relationship Between a New Measure of Religiosity and Sexual Behavior