ABSTRACT

Drawing on Erikson’s and Marcia’s identity development theories, this study examined (a) the interrelations of religious/spiritual identity formation and meaning in life (MIL) and (b) their relations to mental health (i.e. life satisfaction, depression, anxiety) by including age as a moderator. Web-survey data of 132 US American adults were analyzed using correlations, a multinominal-logistic regression, and hierarchical multiple regressions. Religiousness/spirituality (R/S) and MIL indicated slight to moderate associations with each other across current search, search history, and presence. The overlap between the four identity statuses (i.e. diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, achievement) of R/S and MIL further supported the interconnectedness of the two identities. R/S current search and search history were positively associated with both R/S presence and MIL presence, whereas MIL current search and search history were not related to either variable. The associations of MIL and mental health were especially salient. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses further supported that MIL, compared to R/S, better predicted mental health outcomes. MIL presence was favorable, while MIL current search was unfavorably related to mental health. Although MIL presence was important for life satisfaction across ages, it was particularly important later in life. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.

摘要

该研究借鉴了埃里克森和马西亚的身份发展理论，研究了（a）宗教/精神身份形成与生活意义（MIL）的相互关系，以及（b）它们与心理健康的关系（即生活满意度，抑郁，焦虑），包括担任主持人的年龄。使用相关性，多项式逻辑回归和分层多元回归分析了132位美国成年人的网络调查数据。宗教/精神（R / S）和MIL表示在当前搜索，搜索历史和在场情况下彼此之间存在轻微到中等的关联。R / S和MIL的四个身份状态（即扩散，止赎，暂停，成就）之间的重叠进一步支持了两个身份的相互联系。R / S当前搜索和搜索历史与R / S存在和MIL存在均呈正相关，而MIL当前搜索和搜索历史与这两个变量均无关。MIL和心理健康之间的关系尤为突出。分层多元回归分析进一步支持了MIL，与R / S相比，可以更好地预测心理健康结果。MIL的存在是有利的，而MIL的当前搜索与心理健康有关。尽管MIL的存在对于各个年龄段的生活满意度都很重要，但在以后的生活中尤为重要。讨论了对研究和临床实践的影响。分层多元回归分析进一步支持了MIL，与R / S相比，可以更好地预测心理健康结果。MIL的存在是有利的，而MIL的当前搜索与心理健康有关。尽管MIL的存在对于各个年龄段的生活满意度都很重要，但在以后的生活中尤为重要。讨论了对研究和临床实践的影响。分层多元回归分析进一步支持了MIL，与R / S相比，可以更好地预测心理健康结果。MIL的存在是有利的，而MIL的当前搜索与心理健康有关。尽管MIL的存在对于各个年龄段的生活满意度都很重要，但在以后的生活中尤为重要。讨论了对研究和临床实践的影响。