Faith and its Correlates- A Structural Equation Modelling Approach to the Study of Faith and Emotional Well-Being

Abstract

Although numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the association between religion and psychological well-being, questions and ambiguities remain. This study sought to add further knowledge to an association acknowledged by researchers to be complex. The research question central to this study represented an inquiry into the impact that the practice of the Christian religion (synonymous in this study with Christian faith) has on emotional well-being. It was hypothesised that diverse ways of approaching faith would have varying effects on emotional well-being and that these effects would be both direct and indirect, via hypothesised mediating variables. The quantitative research design utilised a correlational study with a cross-sectional survey methodology. Based on the reviewed literature, a theoretical model was developed to investigate the relationship between four Religious Faith Frameworks (Intrinsic/Extrinsic, Quest, Fundamentalism, and Religious Schema), Mediating Variables (Resilience, Guilt, Shame, Hope, and Self-efficacy), and Outcome Variables (Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Vitality, and Emotional Functioning). A number of Background Variables were also included in order to provide context for this study of Christian faith. Data were collected from 590 participants who completed a 155-item survey incorporating 12 validated scales. These participants were recruited from a number of Christian academic institutions (including staff and students) as well as churches. Statistical analysis involved t-tests, ANOVAs, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Structural Equation Modelling. An examination of the data found that the hypothesis underpinning this study was confirmed, as significant relationships were found between different ways of practising the Christian faith and various aspects of Emotional Well-Being. This study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between religion and well-being by highlighting the significance of Resilience, Guilt, and Shame as mediating pathways for religion's influence. It provides further evidence of the developmental nature of Religious Schema, validates the distinction between Extrinsic Social and Extrinsic Personal Religious Orientations, replicates previous research regarding the benefits of Intrinsic religiosity, challenges the notion that quest Religious Orientation necessarily leads to lower Emotional Well-Being, and offers additional insights into Fundamentalism and its effects on Emotional Well-Being. This study also adds to the discussion regarding the meaning and significance of constructs such as religious orientation and fundamentalism and suggests that these terms could benefit from further refinement. This study has relevance not only for scholars in the psychology of religion but also to those who deliver mental health care to followers of the Christian faith as well as leaders and teachers in those faith communities.