Re-conceptualizing the factor structure of the brief multidimensional measure of religiousness/spirituality.
BACKGROUND
This study attempted to differentiate statistically the spiritual and religious factors of the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS), which was developed based on theoretical conceptualizations that have yet to be adequately empirically validated in a population with significant health disorders.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-four individuals with heterogeneous medical conditions [i.e., brain injury, spinal cord injury (SCI), cancer, stroke, primary care conditions].


METHODS
Participants completed the BMMRS as part of a pilot study on spirituality, religion, and physical and mental health.


RESULTS
A principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation and Kaiser normalization identified a six-factor solution (opposed to the expected 8-factor solution) accounting for 60% of the variance in scores, labeled as: (1) Positive Spiritual Experience; (2) Negative Spiritual Experience; (3) Forgiveness; (4) Religious Practices; (5) Positive Congregational Support; and (6) Negative Congregational Support.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest the BMMRS assesses distinct positive and negative aspects of religiousness and spirituality that may be best conceptualized in a psychoneuroimmunological context as measuring: (a) Spiritual Experiences (i.e., emotional experience of feeling connected with a higher power/the universe); (b) Religious Practices (i.e., prayer, rituals, service attendance); (c) Congregational Support; and (d) Forgiveness (i.e., a specific coping strategy that can be conceptualized as religious or non-religious in context).
Department of Health Psychology, DC116.88, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA. johnstoneg@health.missouri.edu
Brick
B
Johnstone
Dong Pil
DP
Yoon
Kelly Lora
KL
Franklin
Laura
L
Schopp
Joseph
J
Hinkebein
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult