title: Challenges to the Conceptualization and Measurement of Religiosity and Spirituality in Mental Health Research.
abstract: Investigating religiosity and spirituality may help to further elucidate how individuals' worldviews influence their attitudes, behavior, and overall well-being. However, inconsistencies in how these constructs are conceptualized and measured may undercut the potential value of religiosity and spirituality research. Results from a survey of undergraduate students suggest that laypeople define spirituality as independent from social influence and that few people associate religiosity with negative terms. A content analysis of spirituality measures indicates that spirituality measures contain items that do not directly measure the strength of spirituality. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
authors: Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Claremont Graduate University, 150 E. 10th St., Claremont, CA, 91711, USA. rachel.baumsteiger@cgu.edu.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Baumsteiger
authors: University of South Florida Saint Petersburg, St. Petersburg, FL, USA. chennevi@mail.usf.edu.
authors: Tiffany
authors: T
authors: Chenneville
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012106:Research; D029181:Spirituality; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Measurement; Mental health; Religiosity; Research; Spirituality
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