Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Idia Thurston

Committee Member

Theresa Okwumabua

Committee Member

Kristoffer Berlin

Committee Member

Frank Andrasik

Abstract

Spirituality and religiosity are salient constructs in the lives of young adults and are associatedwith several positive physical and mental health outcomes. A significant body of researchsuggests that these constructs should be assessed concurrently and multidimensionally to gain afull understanding of these phenomena. The current study examined patterns ofspirituality/religiosity, associations between such patterns and positive outcomes, anddemographic predictors of patterns in an understudied population. A total of 199 racially diverse,non-university attending young adults were recruited from a job-preparedness program situatedin the Midsouth United States. Participants completed measures of demographics, multiplemeasures of spirituality and religiosity, meaning-making, and well-being. Latent profile analysiswas used to identify patterns of spirituality/religiosity (based on scores across multiple measuresof spirituality and religiosity) and associations between these profiles and meaning-making andwell-being were examined. Demographic predictors of class membership (i.e., race and ethnicity,gender) were also examined. Hypotheses included the following: 1) Several distinct typologiesof spirituality/religiosity will emerge and typologies will be characterized by differing levels ofspirituality/religiosity; 2) Spirituality/religiosity typologies characterized by high levels ofspirituality/religiosity will be significantly and positively associated with well-being andmeaning-making; and 3) Identifying as a man or White/European American will predictmembership in classes characterized by lower spirituality/religiosity. Four profiles emerged,including Class 1 (Average S/R, Higher Negative Religious Coping Class), Class 2 (HighReligiosity, Mixed Spirituality), Class 3 (Low Religiosity, Low to Average Spirituality), andClass 4 (Highest S/R and Lower Negative Religious Coping). Consistent with hypotheses,identifying as White/European American or male were found to be significant predictors ofclass membership. Generally, classes characterized by higher spirituality/religiosity wereassociated with greater meaning-making and well-being compared to classes characterized bylower spirituality/religiosity. These findings offer novel contributions to the literature byhighlighting the heterogeneity and salience of spirituality/religiosity patterns. Findings extendthe current research literature by examining spirituality/religiosity among an understudiedpopulation of non-university attending young adults and highlight the need to examinemechanisms behind these relationships. Interventions aimed at improving well-being andmeaning-making among this population may be enriched by elements of spirituality/religiosity.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest

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