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

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.

The Role of Religiousness/Spirituality in Health-Related Quality of Life Among Adolescents with HIV: A Latent Profile Analysis

“…In a study of 3966 adolescents, emerging adults and older adults, also using the Brief MMRS, low spirituality was associated with low depression for adolescents (Barton and Miller 2015). Similarly, in a nationwide survey of young Canadians with regular church involvement, poorer levels of emotional well-being and physical health were found compared to those who did not participate in religious services (Michaelson et al 2014).…”

Spirituality and Psychological Well-being as Buffers of Suicide Probability among Selected Young Filipino Gay Men and Lesbian Women

“…Descriptive statistics were used to determine the levels of spirituality, psychological well-being and suicide probability of the participants. Result showed that the level of spirituality of the participants is moderate (M=104.94; SD=19.28) an indication that lesbian and gay Filipino youth are often going through a process of spiritual individuation, which will eventually result to a more clearly defined and differentiated concept of spirituality as time progresses (Barton & Miller, 2015). The participants also appear to be moderate in terms of their psychological well-being (M=166.70; SD=23.69).…”

“…There is a possibility that the emphasis of spirituality on meaning in life was obscured by the other dimensions of psychological well-being, such as search for meaning and purpose, as well as positive relations (van Dierendonck, 2004). In addition, it can be assumed that the limited ability of lesbian and gay individuals to access their inner resources and have a satisfying relationships with God or a higher power was not enough to contribute to the reduction of suicide behavior due to the process of spiritual individuation (van Dierendonck, 2004;Barton & Miller, 2015). Moreover, spirituality had always been positively associated with psychological well-being (Kamitsis & Francis, 2013;Sacco, Park, Suresh, & Bliss, 2014;Jafari et al, 2010;von Humboldt, Leal, & Pimenta, 2015).…”

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“…There is a possibility that the emphasis of spirituality on meaning in life was obscured by the other dimensions of psychological well-being, such as search for meaning and purpose, as well as positive relations (van Dierendonck, 2004). In addition, it can be assumed that the limited ability of lesbian and gay individuals to access their inner resources and have a satisfying relationships with God or a higher power was not enough to contribute to the reduction of suicide behavior due to the process of spiritual individuation (van Dierendonck, 2004;Barton & Miller, 2015). Moreover, spirituality had always been positively associated with psychological well-being (Kamitsis & Francis, 2013;Sacco, Park, Suresh, & Bliss, 2014;Jafari et al, 2010;von Humboldt, Leal, & Pimenta, 2015).…”