scholarly journals Religious Struggle and Life Satisfaction Among Adult Christians: Self-esteem as a Mediator

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 2833-2856
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Szcześniak ◽  
Celina Timoszyk-Tomczak

AbstractThe religious dimension of life represents an important source of human strength, meaning, and coping for many people. However, the religious life is not always “smooth and easy” and can be associated with weak personal adjustment, poorer psychological well-being, and lower satisfaction. Yet, besides the direct relationship between these variables, some researchers postulate the existence of an indirect association that has not been fully explained by various psychosocial mediators. The aim of the present study was to verify whether self-esteem could be a potential mediator between religious strain and life satisfaction. The sample consisted of 607 adult Christians (49.6% women) aged between 18 and 79. We used the Religious Comfort and Strain Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Consistent with our hypotheses, life satisfaction positively correlated with religious comfort and was negatively associated with fear/guilt, negative emotions toward God, and negative social interactions surrounding religion. The same pattern of results was shown in the case of self-esteem. Moreover, the outcomes obtained from bootstrap sampling (5000) with a 95% confidence interval indicated a significant role of self-esteem as a mediator in all of the relationships between: (1) religious comfort and life satisfaction; (2) fear/guilt and life satisfaction; (3) negative emotions toward God and life satisfaction; and (4) negative social interactions surrounding religion and life satisfaction.

Author(s):  
Ewa Kupcewicz ◽  
Elżbieta Grochans ◽  
Marzena Mikla ◽  
Helena Kadučáková ◽  
Marcin Jóźwik

Background: This study analyzed the role of global self-esteem and selected sociodemographic variables in predicting life satisfaction of nursing students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia. Methods: The study subjects were full-time nursing students from three European countries. A diagnostic survey was used as a research method, while the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (SES) and the satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) were used to collect data. Results: The research was performed on a group of 1002 students. The mean age of those surveyed was 21.6 (±3.4). The results showed significant differences both in the level of the global self-esteem index (F = 40.74; p < 0.0001) and in the level of general satisfaction with life (F = 12.71; p < 0.0001). A comparison of the structure of results demonstrated that there were significantly fewer students with high self-esteem in Spain (11.06%) than in Poland (48.27%) and in Slovakia (42.05%), while more students with a high sense of life satisfaction were recorded in Spain (64.90%) than in Poland (37.87%) or in Slovakia (47.44%). A positive, statistically significant correlation was found between global self-esteem and satisfaction with life in the group of Slovak students (r = 0.37; p < 0.0001), Polish students (r = 0.31; p < 0.0001) and Spanish students (r = 0.26; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a regression analysis proved that three variables explaining a total of 12% output variation were the predictors of life satisfaction in Polish students. The regression factor was positive (ßeta = 0.31; R2 = 0.12), which indicates a positive correlation and the largest share was attributed to global self-esteem (9%). In the group of Spanish students, global self-esteem explained 7% (ßeta = 0.27; R2 = 0.07) of the output variation and 14% in the group of Slovak students (ßeta = 0.38; R2 = 0.14). Conclusions: The global self-esteem demonstrates the predictive power of life satisfaction of nursing students, most clearly marked in the group of Slovak students. The measurement of the variables under consideration may facilitate the planning and implementation of programs aimed at increasing self-esteem among young people and promoting the well-being of nursing students.


Religions ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Szcześniak ◽  
Grażyna Bielecka ◽  
Iga Bajkowska ◽  
Anna Czaprowska ◽  
Daria Madej

An extensive review of the psychological literature shows that interactions between religious/spiritual (R/S) struggles and other aspects of human functioning are complex and affected by “third” factors. Still, we have only a few studies that confirm R/S struggles as a source of well-being and indicate the ways in which it happens. In the present study, we aimed to verify whether the relationship between R/S struggles and life satisfaction was mediated by dispositional gratitude that seems to offer protection in times of adversity and turmoil. The sample consisted of 440 Roman Catholics (331 women) from Poland aged between 18 and 40. We applied the Religious Comfort and Strain Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Gratitude Questionnaire. In line with our hypotheses, it was confirmed that respondents with higher life satisfaction were more likely to display a higher sense of trust in God. They also declared a lower fear/guilt and perception of God as abandoning people. Gratitude correlated positively and significantly with religious comfort, and negatively with emotions towards God and social interactions surrounding religion. Moreover, it can be affirmed that dispositional gratitude mediated the relationship between three of four dimensions of religious strain and life satisfaction: religious comfort, negative emotions towards God, and negative social interactions surrounding religion.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eka Septarianda ◽  
Mohammad Nursalim Malay ◽  
Khoiriyah Ulfah

ABSTRACT: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FORGIVENESS AND SUBJECTIVE WELL BEING AMONG ORPHANAGE ADOLESCENTSThis study aims to determine the relationship between forgiveness and subjective well-being in adolescents who are in the orphanage, through the three components contained in it, i.e. life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect. The subjects of this study were 58 adolescents in the Budi Mulya Muhammadiyah Sukarame orphanage. Data collection method using three scales, those are Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Possitive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The data analysis technique used is the product moment correlation. The results of the analysis of this study explain that there is a positive relationship between forgiveness and subjective well-being through the three components in SWB. The results of this study have implications about the importance of forgiveness in increasing subjective well being in orphanage adolescent.Keywords: Forgiveness, Subjective Well-Being, Orphanage AdolescentPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan forgiveness dengan subjective well-being pada remaja yang berada di panti asuhan, melalui tiga komponen yang terdapat di dalamnya, yaitu life satisfaction, positive affect dan negative affect. Subjek penelitian ini adalah 58 remaja panti asuhan Budi Mulya Muhammadiyah Sukarame. Metode pengumpulan data menggunakan tiga skala, yaitu Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) dan Possitive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Data dianalisis dengan korelasi product moment. Hasil penelitian ini menerangkan bahwa terdapat hubungan yang positif antara forgiveness dengan subjective well-being melalui tiga komponen dalam SWB. Hasil penelitian ini memberi implikasi tentang pentingnya forgiveness dalam meningkatkan subjective well being pada remaja dipanti asuhan.Kata Kunci: Forgiveness, Subjective Well Being, Remaja Panti Asuhan 


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11432
Author(s):  
Danilo Garcia ◽  
Ali Al Nima ◽  
Maryam Kazemitabar ◽  
Clara Amato ◽  
Franco Lucchese ◽  
...  

Background Health assessment among individuals with mental health problems often involves measures of ill-being (e.g., anxiety, depression). Health is, however, defined as a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease (WHO, 1948, 2001). Hence, in order to address mental illness during the 21st century, we need to develop methods for the prevention, identification and treatment of mental illness; but also, for the promotion, identification, and maintenance of well-being. In this context, over three decades of subjective well-being research have resulted in the development of measures of positive aspects of human life, such as the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985). Our aim was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in a Swedish population of individuals with mental illness using both Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT). Method A total of 264 participants (age mean = 43.46, SD = 13.31) diagnosed with different types of mental illness answered to the Swedish version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (five items, 7-point scale: 1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree). Results We found positive and significant relationships between the five items of the scale (r ranging from 0.37 to 0.75), good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.86), and that the one-factor solution had best goodness of fit (loadings between 0.52–0.88, p < 0.001). Additionally, there were no significant differences in comparative fit indexes regarding gender and occupation status. All items had high discrimination values (between 1.95–3.81), but item 5 (“If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing”); which had a moderate discrimination value (1.17) and the highest estimated difficulty on response 7 (3.06). Moreover, item 2 (“The conditions of my life are excellent”) had less discrimination and redundant difficulty with both item 1 (“In most ways my life is close to my ideal”; 2.03) on response 7 and with item 3 (“I am satisfied with my life”; –1.21) on response 1. The five items together provided good information, with especial good reliability and small standard error within −1.00 up to about 2.00 and the highest amount of test information at 0.00 of the level of life satisfaction within this population. Conclusions Consistent with previous research, the scale had good reliability and provided good information across most of the latent trait range. In addition, within this population, sociodemographic factors such as gender and occupation status do not influence how individuals respond to the items in the scale. However, the items couldn’t measure extreme levels of low/high life satisfaction. We suggest replication of these findings, the test of additional items, and the modification of items 2 and 5 in order to use the scale among individuals with mental illness.


2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 1115-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianfeng Tan ◽  
Wu Yang ◽  
Hongwei Ma ◽  
Yulan Yu

We examined the mediating role of Chinese adolescents' core self-evaluations in the relationship between mindfulness and their life satisfaction. The participants (N = 436) completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Core Self-Evaluations Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results suggested that greater life satisfaction was associated with higher levels of mindfulness and more positive core self-evaluations, and core selfevaluations were positively correlated with life satisfaction. The results of mediation analysis suggested that core self-evaluations partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and life satisfaction of Chinese adolescents, implying that a higher level of mindfulness was correlated with more positive core self-evaluations, which were finally associated with greater life satisfaction. Together these results imply that enhancing the levels of mindfulness and encouraging positive core self-evaluations of adolescents will exert a significantly positive effect in promoting their well-being.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.I. Rasskazova ◽  
D.A. Leontiev ◽  
A.A. Lebedeva

Most research on the pandemic today assumes that this situation is stressful and requires coping. The aim was to study subjective well-being in the situation of the pandemic and its relationship to coping and anxiety about coronavirus. 409 people filled Satisfaction With Life Scale, Scale of Positive And Negative Experiences, situational version of COPE, checklists assessing anxiety of infection and anxiety of the negative consequences of the pandemic. The comparison groups were three samples of 98, 66 and 293 people who filled Satisfaction With Life Scale and Scale of Positive And Negative Experiences in 2017 and 2019. There was a lower level of positive emotions among respondents in a situation of self-isolation, but the same level of satisfaction with life and negative emotions. Anxiety about the pandemic is related to higher negative emotions only. Emotionally oriented coping strategies and mental disengagement are associated with a higher level of pandemic anxiety. Problem-oriented and active coping strategies are weakly associated with lower anxiety that could be explained by the lack of ready effective methods of resolving this new and uncertain situation. Anxiety associated with current, acute and imminent risk (such as risk of infection), concentration on emotions and acceptance may not be dysfunctional strategies, as they are not associated with deterioration in overall well-being. On the contrary, attempts to cope with anxiety regarding negative consequences of a pandemic by mental disengagement, substance use and denial are associated with a lower level of satisfaction with life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-123
Author(s):  
Diena Dwidienawati ◽  
David Tjahjana ◽  
Dyah Gandasari ◽  
M. Faisal

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is on human health and other aspects of human life. The government's most common action to prevent the spread of the infection is mobility restriction. The implication of this mobility restriction is the limitation of social activities can be done. Mobility restriction was implemented in Jakarta and its surrounding cities and impacted more than 20 million people. The previous study showed that mobility restriction impacted people's happiness and life satisfaction. After one year of COVID-19 measure implementation, is the adaption effect applied? This study aims to see whether, after one year of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are starting to adapt, and their well-being level is improving compared to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was conducted in February - March 2021. Happiness and satisfaction with life were measured using the Subjective Happiness Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The reliability and validity of measures were analyzed with SPSS. The study reveals that the participant's happiness level was only slightly happy, and the level of satisfaction was only slightly satisfied. The participants claim that their happiness has deteriorated during mobility restriction (58%). Fifty-eight percent felt their satisfaction has deteriorated. The student's group is shown as the most impacted group in their happiness and life satisfaction scale.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabasum Farooq Khan ◽  
Sajad Ahmad Bhat

Most of the problems in our lives occur due to our failure in maintaining social relations. From family to nations, sound relationships are basis of harmony. Our well-being is directly dependent upon how well we are able to get along with others. In present study an attempt was made to examine the relationship of this ability i.e. social intelligence with positive and negative well-being. In positive well-being, Life satisfaction was assessed and in negative wellbeing depressive symptoms were assessed. Participants comprised of 50 adult women students. Social intelligence was measured by using Tromso Social Intelligence Scale, Depressive Symptoms was measured by CES-D Scale and Life Satisfaction was assessed through Satisfaction with Life Scale. After analyzing data a significant positive correlation was found between Satisfaction with Life and Social Intelligence (r= .46, sig. 0.01) and significant negative correlation was found between Social Intelligence and Satisfaction with Life (r=-.36**, sig. 0.01). Thus it can be said on the basis of results that social intelligence plays a role in determining well-being.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-88
Author(s):  
Sana Afridi ◽  
Saira Maqsood

The aim of the current study was to assess the perceived stress, life satisfaction and self-esteem of women studying in co-education and uni-gender institutions. The sample comprised a total of 200 female students, 100 from uni-gender institutions and 100 from co-education institutions. Convenience and purposive sampling techniques were used to collect the data. The standardized Urdu versions of Perceived Stress Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Self-esteem Scale were used to collect the responses of students. SPSS (19th version) was used to analyze the data. Findings showed that women studying in uni-gender institutions are more stressed as compared to female students of co-education institutions but their self-esteem and life satisfaction remain unaffected. The results indicated that there is a significant difference between perceived stress, life satisfaction and self-esteem among female students. Moreover, they also revealed that stress and self-esteem affect the life satisfaction of women studying in co-education and uni-gender institutions. Furthermore, the results also depicted significant relationships between perceived stress, life satisfaction and self-esteem. The study will be helpful in improving the educational systems so that female students may enjoy a better learning environment which will boost up their confidence and self-esteem.


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