African -American individuals' perceived relationships with God and psychological well -being.

Abstract

Previous studies have generally found a positive association between religiosity/spirituality and improved psychological outcomes. However, there is little understanding of the specific ways in which spirituality and religion are linked to individuals' psychological status. This study examines the association between individuals' perceptions of the nature of their relationships with God and psychological well-being in a sample of 131 African American adults. Two scales based on Relational theory and research were developed to examine the degree of co-creativity (i.e., mutuality as defined by Genero, Miller, & Surrey, 1992: enhanced engagement, empathy, empowerment, authenticity, zest, and diversity) in individuals' communication and relationships with God. The measures of communication and relationship with God were named the Mutual Psychological Development Questionnaire - God (MPDQ-G) and Relationship with God (RWG) scales respectively and were based on the Mutual Psychological Development Questionnaire (Genero, et al., 1992) and the Relational Health Indices (Liang, Taylor, Williams, Tracy, Jordan, & Miller, 1998), scales devised by Relational theorists to examine mutuality in interpersonal relationships. The new measures were found to be reliable and valid and each captured two distinct factors. The MPDQ-G consisted of empathic/empowering and unengaged/discouraged communication with God factors. The RWG consisted of factors capturing affirming/authentic and disappointing/punishing qualities in relationship with God. Models of psychological well-being were examined which included demographic characteristics, friendship network quality (i.e., perceived friendship support and friendship satisfaction), religious involvement factors (i.e., organizational and subjective religiosity), and the MPDQ-G and RWG. Regression and structural equation models revealed that co-creativity in communication with God (i.e., MPDQ-G scores), co-creativity in relationship with God (i.e., RWG scores), and perceived friendship support were consistently predictive of psychological well-being. Friendship satisfaction, organizational religiosity, and subjective religiosity did not directly predict psychological well-being, although indirect associations were found. Regression models provided evidence for an association between gender and depression such that women tended to be more depressed. Structural equation models revealed that education indirectly influenced life satisfaction and depression through the RWG. More educated participants tended to indicate higher levels of co-creativity in their relationships with God, and higher RWG scores were associated with decreased depression and increased life satisfaction.