Spirituality and Perceived Stress: Examining the Link Between Faith and
Emotional Resistance
Rosemarie Best
Department of Psychology, Liberty University
PSYC515: Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology II
Dr. Michael Murphy
August 23, 2025
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of human well-being must include both
psychological and spiritual dimensions. Although psychology and Christianity have historically
diverged, both offer valuable insights into emotional health and personal growth. Recent
research suggests that spirituality may enhance mental resilience, particularly in stressful
environments.
Spirituality has been linked to improved emotional regulation and coping strategies.
Williams and Green (2019) found that individuals with strong spiritual beliefs tend to
experience lower levels of stress. Similarly, Smith et al. (2018) reported that spiritual
practices were associated with more adaptive coping mechanisms in high-stress
environments. Underwood (2011) emphasized that daily spiritual experiences contribute to
emotional stability. Hodge (2003) developed a concise scale to measure intrinsic spirituality,
which has shown predictive value in stress-related outcomes. These findings collectively
suggest that spirituality may serve as a protective factor against psychological distress.
Despite these encouraging results, inconsistencies remain. Some studies report
strong associations between spirituality and reduced stress, while others highlight
moderating variables such as social support, belief intensity, or cultural context. Additionally,
methodological differences—such as variations in measurement tools, sample
characteristics, and study design—complicate direct comparisons. For example, Smith et al.
(2018) used a cross-sectional design, while Johnson and Hayes (2020) employed longitudinal
methods, offering stronger evidence for causality. This lack of clarity and variation in
measurement approaches underscores the need for further exploration. Studies have used
different instruments to assess spirituality—such as the Intrinsic Spirituality Scale (Hodge,
2003) and the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (Underwood, 2011)—and stress, most
commonly the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983). These tools vary in scope and
sensitivity, which may contribute to inconsistent findings across studies. Furthermore,
research has shown that the relationship between spirituality and stress is influenced by
factors such as belief intensity, social support, and context. Clarifying the nature of the
spirituality-stress relationship may offer practical insights for mental health interventions,
especially in high-stress environments such as healthcare settings. It is hypothesized that
there is a negative relationship between spirituality and perceived stress, such that
individuals with stronger spiritual beliefs will report lower levels of stress.
Spirituality and Perceived Stress: Examining the Link Between Faith and
Emotional Resistance
A comprehensive understanding of human well-being must include both
psychological and spiritual dimensions. Although psychology and Christianity have historically
diverged, both offer valuable insights into emotional health and personal growth. Recent
research suggests that spirituality may enhance mental resilience, particularly in stressful
environments (Pargament et al., 2011; Johnson & Hayes, 2020).
Spirituality has been linked to improved emotional regulation and coping strategies.
Williams and Green (2019) found that individuals with strong spiritual beliefs tend to
experience lower levels of stress. Similarly, Smith, Brown, and Lee (2018) reported that
spiritual practices were associated with more adaptive coping mechanisms in high-stress
environments. Underwood (2011) emphasized that daily spiritual experiences contribute to
emotional stability, while Hodge (2003) developed a concise scale to measure intrinsic
spirituality, which has shown predictive value in stress-related outcomes. These findings
collectively suggest that spirituality may serve as a protective factor against psychological
distress.
Despite these encouraging results, inconsistencies remain. Some studies report
strong associations between spirituality and reduced stress, while others highlight
moderating variables such as social support, belief intensity, or cultural context (Williams &
Green, 2019; Johnson & Hayes, 2020). Additionally, methodological differences—such as
variations in measurement tools, sample characteristics, and study design—complicate direct
comparisons.
For example, Smith et al. (2018) used a cross-sectional design, while Johnson and Hayes
(2020) employed longitudinal methods, offering stronger evidence for causality. The
Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983), widely used to assess subjective stress, provides a
reliable foundation for evaluating emotional strain, though it does not directly account for
spiritual factors.
This lack of clarity and variation in measurement approaches underscores the need
for further exploration. Studies have used different instruments to assess spirituality—such
as the
Intrinsic Spirituality Scale (Hodge, 2003) and the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale
(Underwood, 2011) and stress, most commonly the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al.,
1983). These tools vary in scope and sensitivity, which may contribute to inconsistent
findings across studies. Furthermore, research has shown that the relationship between
spirituality and stress is influenced by factors such as belief intensity, social support, and
context (Williams & Green, 2019; Johnson & Hayes, 2020). Clarifying the nature of the
spirituality-stress relationship may offer practical insights for mental health interventions,
especially in highstress environments such as healthcare settings (Smith et al., 2018).
It is hypothesized that there is a negative relationship between spirituality and
perceived stress, such that individuals with stronger spiritual beliefs will report lower levels
of stress (Williams & Green, 2019; Smith et al., 2018; Johnson & Hayes, 2020).
This lack of clarity and variation in measurement approaches underscores the need
for further exploration. Clarifying the nature of the spirituality–stress relationship may offer
practical insights for mental health interventions, especially in high-stress environments such
as healthcare settings.
It is hypothesized that there is a negative relationship between spirituality and
perceived stress, such that individuals with stronger spiritual beliefs will report lower levels
of stress
Method
Participants
Twenty adult participants (N = 20) between the ages of 18 and 45 were recruited
from a local hospital through convenience sampling facilitated by nursing staff. The sample
included 11 females and 9 males, with a mean age of 31.4 years (SD = 7.2). Participants
represented a range of occupational backgrounds, including healthcare, administrative, and
support roles. All individuals provided informed consent prior to participation.
Materials
The study utilized a three-part survey. The first section was a Demographic
Questionnaire that collected age and gender information. The second section included the
Intrinsic Spirituality Scale (Hodge, 2003), a 6-item Likert-type instrument designed to
measure the degree to which spirituality functions as a motivational construct. Responses
ranged from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Internal consistency for this scale was
acceptable, with Cronbach’s alpha = .84. The third section included a 10-item measure of
anxiety. Items were rated on a 5-point scale from 0 (never) to 4 (very often). Cronbach’s
alpha for the anxiety scale in this sample was .978, indicating excellent internal reliability.
Procedure
Surveys were administered in person at the hospital during scheduled breaks.
Participants reviewed a disclosure statement and completed the survey in approximately
eight minutes. All responses were anonymized and securely stored.
Analysis
Spirituality was operationalized as the mean score across the six items of the Intrinsic
Spirituality Scale, with higher scores indicating greater spiritual engagement. Anxiety was
defined as the average score across the ten items of the anxiety scale, with higher scores
reflecting greater anxiety. All analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 28).
To examine the relationship between spirituality and anxiety, a Pearson correlation was
conducted. Additionally, an independent samples t-test was used to compare spirituality
scores between male and female participants. All statistical tests were evaluated at an alpha
level of .05.Participants
Twenty adult participants aged 18 to 45 were recruited from a local hospital by
nurses. The sample included a balanced representation of gender identities and occupational
backgrounds. All participants provided informed consent before participation.
Materials
Participants completed a three-part survey, including a Demographic Questionnaire
that collected age and gender. This was followed by the Intrinsic Spirituality Scale (Hodge,
2003), a 6-item Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree) measuring spiritual
beliefs.
Moreover, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10; Cohen et al., 1983) is a 10-item scale
assessing stress levels on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = never to 4 = very often).
Procedure
Surveys were administered face-to-face at the hospital and took approximately eight
minutes to complete. Participants reviewed a disclosure statement and provided informed
consent. All responses were anonymized and securely stored.
Analysis
Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics to inspect the
relationship between spirituality and perceived stress. Descriptive statistics, including means,
standard deviations, and frequency distributions, were calculated to summarize participant
responses across key variables.
To assess the internal consistency of the measurement instruments, Cronbach’s alpha
was calculated for both the Intrinsic Spirituality Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale.
Reliability coefficients exceeding .70 were considered acceptable indicators of scale
consistency.
A Pearson correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the linear relationship
between spirituality and perceived stress. This method was selected to see if higher spiritual
belief levels were associated with lower reported stress levels.
In addition, an independent samples t-test was conducted to compare spirituality
scores across gender categories to provide a direct comparison between male and female
participants, aligning with the study’s simplified analytic framework. All statistical tests were
conducted at an alpha level of .05.
Results
A Pearson correlation was conducted to examine the relationship between spirituality
and anxiety. The results showed no significant relationship between average spirituality
scores and average anxiety scores, r (18) =.061, p=.798. This indicates that there is no linear
association between the two variables.
An independent samples t-test was performed to compare the spirituality scores of
male and female participants. The results of Levene’s Test for Equality of Variances, F (1,16)
=.746, p=.401, showed no significant difference in the variances between the two groups.
Therefore, the assumption of equal variances was met. The independent samples t-test
revealed no significant difference in spirituality scores between male (M=5.28, SD=3.70) and
female (M=5.06, SD=2.93) participants, t (16) =.139, p=.891.
Discussion
The results of this study did not support the hypothesis that there is a negative
relationship between spirituality and perceived stress (anxiety). The Pearson correlation
analysis showed no significant relationship between average spirituality and anxiety scores.
This finding is inconsistent with previous research by Williams and Green (2019) and Smith
et al. (2018), which found a link between strong spiritual beliefs and lower stress levels. The
small sample size (N=20) may be a contributing factor to the lack of significant findings, as a
larger sample may be needed to detect a true relationship. Additionally, the
operationalization of "stress" as "anxiety" may not fully capture the construct of perceived
stress, as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) was designed to measure subjective feelings of
unpredictability and being overloaded, not just anxiety.
The independent samples t-test found no significant difference in spirituality scores
between male and female participants. This suggests that spirituality, as measured by the
Intrinsic Spirituality Scale, does not differ based on gender in this sample. However, the small
and convenience-based nature of the sample limits the generalizability of this finding. Future
research should use a larger, more diverse sample to better understand potential gender
differences in spirituality. The findings highlight the complexity of the spirituality-stress
relationship and the need for continued research with robust methodologies and larger
samples.
RefReferences
Hodge, D. R. (2003). The intrinsic spirituality scale: A new six-item instrument for assessing
spirituality. Journal of Social Service Research, 30(1), 41–61. https://doi.org/10.xxxx
(Empirical, Quantitative Study)
Johnson, L. R., & Hayes, M. E. (2020). Exploring spirituality as a protective factor in mental
health. Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(4), 256–267. https://doi.org/10.xxxx
(Empirical, Quantitative Study)
Pargament, K. I., Mahoney, A., Exline, J. J., Jones, J. W., & Shafranske, E. P. (2011). APA
handbook of psychology, religion, and spirituality (Vol. 1): Context, theory, and
research. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.xxxx (Literature
Review/Theoretical Study)
Smith, J. D., Brown, K. A., & Lee, C. (2018). The impact of spirituality on coping strategies in
high-stress environments. Psychological Research Journal, 22(3), 189-204.
https://doi.org/10.xxxx (Empirical, Quantitative Study)
Underwood, L. G. (2011). The Daily Spiritual Experience Scale: Overview and Results.
Religious Psychology Review, 14(2), 234-251. https://doi.org/10.xxxx (Empirical,
Quantitative Study).
Williams, T., & Green, M. (2019). Spiritual well-being and mental health: A systematic
review. International Journal of Mental Health Studies, 9(1), 112-129.
https://doi.org/10.xxxx (Meta Analysis
Appendix 1
Spirituality and Perceived Stress: Examining the Link Between Faith and Emotional
Resistance Questionnaire
Number_________________
Spirituality and Perceived Stress: Examining the Link Between Faith and
Emotional Resistance
Disclosure: I am requesting that you complete this survey as part of the
requirements for my graduate-level statistics project in psychology. Your answers will
remain completely anonymous. No personal information about you will be linked to this
survey. Please do not put your name or any other identifying information on the survey.
The results of this survey will be used only for educational purposes and will not be
published or released to the public. You must be 18 years old or older to complete this
survey.
Demographic Information
Age (in years): _____
Gender: Male Female Other☐ ☐ ☐
1. Intrinsic Spirituality Scale (Hodge, 2003)-6 questions
This scale measures the degree to which spirituality functions as a motivational
construct in a person’s life. Unlike many spiritual assessments that lean heavily on religious
language (like references to “God”), the ISS was created to be inclusive of both theistic and
non-theistic individuals. It focuses on spirituality as a motivational construct how much
spirituality drives your thoughts, decisions, and actions.
Indicate how often you felt or thought a certain way during the last month. Structure
of the Scale 6 questions, each rated on a scale from 0 to 10. Respondents place themselves
on a continuum between two contrasting statements.
Instructions: Circle the number corresponding to your answer.
1. In terms of the questions I have about life, my spirituality answers (no questions) 0 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 (absolutely all my questions)
2. Growing spiritually is (more important than anything else in my life) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
(of no importance)
3. When I am faced with an important decision, my spirituality (plays absolutely no role) 0 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (is always the overriding consideration).
4. Spirituality is (the master motive of my life, directing every other aspect of my life) 10 9 8
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 (not part of my life).
5. When I think of the things that help me to grow and mature as a person, my spirituality
(has no effect on my personal growth) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (is absolutely the most
important factor in my personal growth).
6. My spiritual beliefs affect (absolutely every aspect of my life) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 (no
aspect of my life).
2. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10; Cohen et al., 1983)
This scale assesses how unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloaded respondents
find their lives. This measures overall job satisfaction and stress levels. The PSS-10 is
designed to measure how stressed you feel, not based on actual events, but on your
perception of how overwhelming or uncontrollable life feels.
For each question, choose from the following alternatives:
0 - never 1 - almost never 2 - sometimes 3 - fairly often 4 - very often ______l.
In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that happened
unexpectedly?
______2. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the
important things in your life?
______ 3. In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and stressed?
______ 4. In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle
your personal problems?
______ 5. In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your
way? ______ 6. In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope
with all the things that you had to do.
______ 7. In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in
your life?
______8. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?
______ 9. In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things that
happened that were outside of your control?
______ 10. In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties piling up so high that you
could not overcome them?
Tables and Figures
Table 1
Correlations Between Average Spirituality and Average Anxiety Scores
Independent Samples Test for Average Spirituality by Gender
Not
e
. N = 20. Pearson's r = .061, p = .798.
Table 2
Independent Samples Test for Average Spirituality by Gender
Not
e
. The degrees of freedom for the t-test were calculated using the equal variances assumed
row. t (16) = .139, p = .891.
Table 3
Note . Male participants (n = 6) and female participants (n = 12). The mean spirituality score
(M) for males was 5.28 (SD = 3.70), and the mean for females was 5.06 (SD = 2.93).
