The Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale and Well-Being: Demographic Comparisons and Scale Validation with Older Jewish Adults and a Diverse Internet Sample

Abstract

A substantive literature connects spirituality to positive physical, social, and mental health. In this study, the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) was administered to 410 subjects who participated in a community study and to 87 residents at the Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale (HHAR), the latter sample consisting primarily of older Jewish respondents. Internal consistency of the DSES in both samples was high and exploratory factor analyses revealed one dominant factor and a second factor, which included 14 and 2 items, respectively, consistent with the scale's original validation (Underwood and Teresi 2002). Demographic subgroup comparison among religious groups revealed significantly fewer daily spiritual experiences among Jews, and lowest scores among those respondents endorsing no religious affiliation. Women exhibited more frequent daily experience than men, and attainment of higher levels of education was associated with less frequent daily spiritual experience. All but one of the outcome measures of physical and psychologic well-being were found to be positively associated with the DSES so that more frequent daily spiritual experience correlated with less psychopathology, more close friendships, and better self-rated health. Directions for future research, study interpretation and limitations, and clinical implications for use of the DSES are discussed.

The Daily Spiritual Experience Scale: Overview and Results

“…Positive associations of DSE's with health were independent of public religious activity in the GSS [36]. Kalkstein and Tower [20] also showed positive correlation of DSE's with self-rated health.…”

“…They have been useful in studies of altruism and self-giving behaviors and attitudes, particularly when motivation is of interest. Lower levels of daily spiritual experiences correlated with having fewer close friends among a mixed sample of 409 adults and 84 older adults [20]. In a longitudinal study of older adults, positive association was found between social network integration and spiritual experiences in older adults [39].…”

“…Confirmatory Factor Analysis shows a single factor in a European French population [9]. Kalkstein and Tower [20] show a single factor, even though there was weaker loading on the two compassionate love items (13 and 14). Robinson et al 2007 found a one factor solution in an alcoholic population in treatment, with a 0.92 Chronbach's alpha [17].…”

“…In 497 adults, lower levels of spiritual experience were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and fewer close friendships, controlling for other religion, age, gender and education [20]. In survivors of domestic violence, higher DSES predicted fewer depressive symptoms and higher levels of social support [69].…”

Daily Spiritual Experiences and Prosocial Behavior

“…Underwood developed the DSES through extensive qualitative research, and tested the measure for validity and reliability (Underwood 2006). Follow-up studies have confirmed the reliability and validity of the measure among diverse populations, including non-white, non-US and non-Christian respondents (Bailly and Roussiau 2010;Kalkstein and Tower 2009;Loustalot et al 2006;Mayoral et al, in press;Ng et al 2009). Over sixty-five studies have used the DSES, but most have examined the scale's relationship to physical health outcomes and psychological wellbeing (Underwood 2010).…”