Multidimensional assessment of spirituality/religion in patients with HIV: conceptual framework and empirical refinement.
A decade ago, an expert panel developed a framework for measuring spirituality/religion in health research (Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality), but empirical testing of this framework has been limited. The purpose of this study was to determine whether responses to items across multiple measures assessing spirituality/religion by 450 patients with HIV replicate this model. We hypothesized a six-factor model underlying a collective of 56 items, but results of confirmatory factor analyses suggested eight dimensions: Meaning/Peace, Tangible Connection to the Divine, Positive Religious Coping, Love/Appreciation, Negative Religious Coping, Positive Congregational Support, Negative Congregational Support, and Cultural Practices. This study corroborates parts of the factor structure underlying the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality and some recent refinements of the original framework.
Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0840, USA. magdalena.szaflarski@uc.edu
Magdalena
M
Szaflarski
Ian
I
Kudel
Sian
S
Cotton
Anthony C
AC
Leonard
Joel
J
Tsevat
P Neal
PN
Ritchey
D003210:Concept Formation; D036262:Empirical Research; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011788:Quality of Life; D012067:Religion; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States