Expressions Of Spirituality Inventory Research Articles

The role of repetitive thinking and spirituality in the development of posttraumatic growth and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Both post-traumatic growth (PTG) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with spirituality and different kinds of repetitive thinking, such as deliberate rumination (DR) and intrusive rumination (IR), respectively. This study aimed to examine if spirituality modifies the relationship between types of rumination and trauma outcomes. Ninety-six students completed an online survey of four questionnaires in a cross-sectional online survey: The Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, the Event Related Rumination Inventory, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Short form and the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory- Revised. Findings revealed that spirituality was related to DR and PTG, but not to IR or PTSD symptoms. Moderation analysis showed that spirituality significantly moderated the relationship between PTG and DR, but not the relationship between PTSD and IR. These findings indicate that while spirituality has no relationship with negative outcomes of trauma, it may help individuals to ruminate in a constructive manner in order to develop positive outcomes.

Expressions of Spirituality and States of Consciousness in Brazilian Postpartum Mothers: A Convergent Mixed-Methods Study

PURPOSEThe purpose of this study was to examine the how different aspects of the birthing environment were associated with a parturient's states of consciousness, spirituality, and satisfaction with the childbirth experience.DESIGNThe study utilized a convergent mixed methods research design involving both quantitative and qualitative components with convenience sampling. In total, 276 Brazilian postpartum women completed a states of consciousness mini-test and the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory—Revised. A small subsample of women who gave birth in different settings were also interviewed. Quantitative data were examined using descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and analysis of variance and covariance. Qualitative interview data were thematically analyzed.MAJOR FINDINGSHome birth and the absence of a physician were associated with a higher occurrence of favorable non-ordinary states and satisfaction with childbirth. Spiritually-inclusive birth preparation was found to be associated with most spirituality and states of consciousness variables and more than childbirth satisfaction.MAIN CONCLUSIONNon-ordinary states emerged from a parturient's sense of security with their surroundings and from preparation for childbirth. Spiritual experiences were related to pre-existing spiritual beliefs and practices.

Spirituality and natural mentoring relationship among adolescent girls and boys in Slovakia

ABSTRACT The aim of the article is to explore the association between natural mentoring relationships and spirituality among adolescent boys and girls, controlling for perceived parental support and year of high school attendance. The sample consisted of 177 Slovak adolescents (53% girls; Mage = 16.92, SD = 1.69). Spirituality was measured by the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory, the existence of a mentoring relationship by single item measure, and the perceived parental support was examined via the Resilience and Youth Development Module questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was used for data analysis. Results confirm an association between spirituality and the existence of a natural mentoring relationship. Mentoring relationships were associated with a lower level of cognitive orientation towards spirituality among boys and girls and with a lower level of existential well-being among girls. Results confirm the importance of mentoring due to the development of adolescent spirituality and emphasize the need to examine its correlates.

Gender Differences in Spirituality among College Students

The relation between gender and spirituality is of great interest hence our study aimed to examine the gender differences in college students through the lens of spirituality. 60 students (30 males & 30 females) were chosen from arts faculty with age range of (18 & older). They were requested to fill Expressions of Spirituality Inventory (Mac Donald 2009) which consist of 30 items with five dimensions i.e. cognitive, experiential, existential, paranormal, and religiousness. Independent sample t test was administered for obtaining mean difference between both the genders on spirituality. Significant difference was found on two domains of spirituality i.e. Cognitive and Experiential dimension. In cognitive domain males scores higher (M=18.30, SD=2.91) as compared to females (M=13.60, SD=4.23) with t value as 5.01 which was significant at 0.05 level. Other domain in which significant difference was found was Experiential domain, here females scored higher (M=17.40, SD=5.21) as compared to males (M=13.23, SD=4.43) with t value as 3.33 which was significant at 0.05 level. No significant difference was found in the remaining three dimensions i.e. Existential, Paranormal and Religious domains, having t value as 1.02, .861 and 1.55 respectively at 0.05 levels. This study contributes a great understanding of spirituality and the effects of gender on spirituality.

The German-Language Version of the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory-Revised: Adaptation and Initial Validation

This study deals with the development and initial validation of the German language version of MacDonald’s (2000) Expressions of Spirituality Inventory-Revised (ESI-R; Macdonald, D.A. (2000). The Expressions of Spirituality Inventory: Test Development, Validation and Scoring Information. Unpublished test manual. University of Detroit Mercy). Using two samples (N = 479 and N = 610 adults), we found the best fit for a five-factor solution that converges well with the original English language version. Correlations with subjective measures for religiosity, life satisfaction, orientations to happiness, personality, single item ratings of religious and spiritual behaviors as well as a ratings on the depiction of religious contents in the media support the validity of the German ESI-R. Overall, the findings are encouraging and the scale seems to be useful for further research in German-language countries.

Spirituality as a scientific construct: testing its universality across cultures and languages.

Using data obtained from 4004 participants across eight countries (Canada, India, Japan, Korea, Poland, Slovakia, Uganda, and the U.S.), the factorial reliability, validity and structural/measurement invariance of a 30-item version of Expressions of Spirituality Inventory (ESI-R) was evaluated. The ESI-R measures a five factor model of spirituality developed through the conjoint factor analysis of several extant measures of spiritual constructs. Exploratory factor analyses of pooled data provided evidence that the five ESI-R factors are reliable. Confirmatory analyses comparing four and five factor models revealed that the five dimensional model demonstrates superior goodness-of-fit with all cultural samples and suggest that the ESI-R may be viewed as structurally invariant. Measurement invariance, however, was not supported as manifested in significant differences in item and dimension scores and in significantly poorer fit when factor loadings were constrained to equality across all samples. Exploratory analyses with a second adjective measure of spirituality using American, Indian, and Ugandan samples identified three replicable factors which correlated with ESI-R dimensions in a manner supportive of convergent validity. The paper concludes with a discussion of the meaning of the findings and directions needed for future research.

Spirituality and the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical Scales

The present investigation examined the relation between spirituality, measured by the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory (ESI; MacDonald, 2000); and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Clinical (MMPI-2 RC) scales (Tellegen et al., 2003) using data from a previously published study (i.e., MacDonald & Holland, 2003). Zero-order, multiple, and partial correlations were calculated to explore the association. All multiple correlations, wherein the five ESI dimensions were used collectively to predict MMPI-2 RC scales, emerged significant for all MMPI-2 RC scales. For zero-order correlations, all RC scales were found to have a significant relation with at least one ESI dimension. Existential Well-Being (EWB) was found to be significantly negatively associated with all MMPI-2 RC scales except RC9-Hypomanic Activation. When compared to correlations between the ESI and the MMPI-2 Basic Clinical Scales, the RC scales seem to produce a similar pattern of coefficients but of lower magnitude. The study concludes with a discussion of the findings, limitations, and suggestions for clinical practice and future research.

Religiosity and HIV Risk Behaviors in African-American Students

The participants were 256 African-American students between the ages of 18 and 25, from two historically Black universities. The purpose of this study was to see how dimensions of religiosity and spirituality influenced the HIV risk behavior in African-American college students. Each participant completed the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory (ESI) and a survey of sexual attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. The data were analyzed using a series of ANOVAs, t tests, and correlations. The results from the study confirmed that there was a relationship between religiosity/spirituality and one's tendency to engage in HIV risk behaviors in the population of African-American college students. Interestingly, this study was able to reveal that traditional indicators of religiosity, such as association and church attendance, were not predictors of any of the risky sexual behaviors or attitudes. The portions of religiosity with the greatest impact on these behaviors were the Experiential/Phenomenological, the Existential Well-being, and the Cognitive dimensions, with high scores on each indicative of less likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviors.

Measures of spiritual and transpersonal constructs for use in yoga research

This article presents information on standardized paper-and-pencil measures of spiritual and transpersonal constructs that hold promise for use in yoga research. Nine instruments are discussed at length including the Assessment Schedule for Altered States of Consciousness, Ego Grasping Orientation, Expressions of Spirituality Inventory, Hindu Religious Coping Scale, Measures of Hindu Pathways, Self-Expansiveness Level Form, Spiritual Orientation Inventory, Spiritual Transcendence Scale, and the Vedic Personality Inventory. As well, a listing of an additional 14 measures, along with primary citations, is provided. In conclusion, the authors proffer recommendations for the use of psychometric tests and provide a general proposal for programmatic research.

Spirituality and complex partial epileptic-like signs.

Using a sample of 262 undergraduate volunteers, correlational and regressional analyses were completed to examine the relation of self-reported complex partial epileptic-like signs to a five-dimensional model of spirituality assessed by the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory. Analyses show that spirituality is significantly predictive of Complex Partial Epileptic-like Signs. Scores from subscales Paranormal Beliefs, Experiential/Phenomenological Dimension, and Existential Well-being uniquely accounted for significant portions of Complex Partial Epileptic-like Signs variance. ESI Cognitive Orientation Toward Spirituality significantly correlated with Complex Partial Epileptic-like Signs but it was not a significant predictor in regression analyses. ESI Religiousness was unrelated to Complex Partial Epileptic-like Signs in all analyses. This pattern of relations remained largely the same when participants' age, sex, and reported religious involvement were controlled. The paper includes a discussion of the meaning of the findings and suggestions for research.

Spirituality and boredom proneness

Using data obtained from 296 university undergraduate students, standard regression analyses were calculated for men and women separately to examine the relation of spirituality, defined multidimensionally as per the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory (ESI), to boredom proneness as measured by the Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS). Results reveal that spirituality significantly predicts boredom proneness scores. Semi-partial correlations indicate that the facet of spirituality known as Existential Well-Being is the only significant predictor of boredom proneness for both sexes while ESI Cognitive Orientation to Spirituality was significant for women only. ESI dimensions explicitly tapping religiousness, spiritual experience and paranormal beliefs were not found to reliably or uniquely contribute to the prediction of boredom proneness. The findings involving ESI Existential Well-Being are consistent with extant research showing a negative relation between boredom and meaning and purpose in life.

Spirituality: description, measurement, and relation to the five factor model of personality.

The present article focused on the development and measurement of a factor model of the expressions of spirituality. Study 1 (N = 534) involved the use of factor analysis to examine the latent factor structure in a sample of 11 measures of spiritual constructs. Study 2 (N = 938) focused on the replication of Study 1 results and on the construction and initial validation of an instrument to operationalize the factor model of spirituality. Results indicate that at least 5 robust dimensions of spirituality underlie the spirituality test domain. These dimensions were labeled Cognitive Orientation Towards Spirituality (COS), Experiential/Phenomenological Dimension (EPD), Existential Well-Being (EW-B), Paranormal Beliefs (PAR), and Religiousness (REL). The measure developed, named the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory (ESI), takes the form of a 98-item instrument that generated scores demonstrating satisfactory reliability and adequate initial validity. Examination of the relation of spirituality to the Five Factor Model (FFM) as measured by the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised revealed that the dimensions of the FFM appear to differentially relate to the major elements of spirituality but are nevertheless conceptually unique, pointing to the possible existence of major aspects of personality not represented in the FFM.