Spirituality And Employment Satisfaction: Exploring the Correlation Between
Faith and Psychological Strength
As part of an effort to promote a more comprehensive overview of the human experience, it is
crucial that individuals acknowledge that psychological and Christian fields, although distinct from one
another, can provide valuable insights into the evolvement of humans. Historically, Psychology and
Christianity have had a very complex relationship, characterized by conflicting and controversial views,
which has created tension between them. In order to foster a more harmonious relationship, individuals
must recognize that mental and spiritual well-being are interconnected. In all, this means understanding
how spiritual experiences may impact psychological issues and vice versa, which in turn promote a
comprehensive and balanced approach to overall well-being.
Many factors contribute to the demise of an individual’s mental health, with employment
satisfaction being a significant determinant. The impact of different work conditions and environments,
such as a supportive or high-pressure, and financial security or feeling valued can positively or
negatively influence psychological strength. Research consistently demonstrates that cognitive and
environmental factors influence mental health (Hodge, 2003). The interaction between spiritual well-
being and resilience with stress and coping mechanisms (Underwood, 2011) is a primary concern in
contemporary psychology. In addition to increased resilience, better coping strategies, and improved
emotional regulation, spirituality and religiosity have been linked to numerous mental health benefits
(Pargament et al., 2011).
While these findings have been noted, research on spirituality and mental health have been
mixed. In some studies, spirituality is shown as a protective factor against mental health disorders, while
in others, it has no significant impact (Smith et al., 2018; Johnson & Hayes, 2020). Moreover, a meta-
analysis by Williams and Green (2019) demonstrates how spiritual well-being is closely related to
mental health, emphasizing that people who are more spiritual are less stressed and anxious than those
who are not. The researchers also found that the strength of this relationship depends on how strong a
person's beliefs are and how supportive an external system is. This discrepancy highlights the need for
further research to clarify the role of spirituality in psychological resilience, particularly in diverse
populations and workplace settings.
The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation between faith, employment conditions and
psychological strength within a diverse sample. It is hypothesized that individuals with higher levels of
spirituality will exhibit greater resilience and improved coping strategies when facing workplace
stressors compared to those with lower levels.
Method
Participants
This study sample consisted of 20 consenting adult participants who were recruited through an online
survey. Each participant ranged from ages 18 to 65 years old with a balanced representation of gender.
Materials
The participants in the standardized survey were anonymous and were asked to answer a
demographic question regarding their gender identity. The survey also consisted of an adaptation of
Hodge (2003)'s spirituality scale, and a resilience scale that had been validated previously (Underwood,
2011). On a Likert scale, participants self-reported their spiritual beliefs and practices, ranging from 1
(strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). As with the resilience scale, coping strategies and emotional
well-being were assessed using the same 7-point Likert scale.
Procedure
Participants were able to access the survey on an online platform. A disclosure was placed at the
beginning of the survey and required each participant to give their informed consent. The participants
then took the survey which took approximately eight (8) minutes. Upon completion, the data was
securely stored.
Analysis
Using the SPSS software, a Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to access the direction and
strength of the correlation between the two variables: spirituality and job satisfaction. A multiple
regression analysis was also performed at the alpha level of 0.05 to determine statistical significance in
whether spirituality levels significantly predicted job satisfaction scores when controlling for
demographic factors such as gender. Additionally, descriptive statistics, including frequency
distributions, means, and standard deviations, were calculated to provide an overview of participant
responses. ANOVA and independent t-test were conducted to examine differences within groups in faith
and job satisfaction based on gender categories. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to ensure reliability of
the scales used and had a threshold of 0.70 for each measure to indicate acceptable internal consistency.
Reference:
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:
Survey for PSYC 515
Disclosure: I am asking you to complete this survey as part of the requirements for my statistics
project in a graduate-level psychology course. 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 Question:
1. What is your gender? (Please circle one option)
o Male
o Female
o Other
Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES): Directions: Please select the number that best reflects
your answer for each question.
Question
Many
times a
day (6)
Every
Day (5)
Most
Days
(4)
Some
Days
(3)
Once In
a While
(2)
Never or
Almost
Never (1)
I feel God’s presence.
I find strength and
comfort in my
religion.
I feel deep inner
peace or harmony.
I feel God's love for
me directly or
through others.
I am spiritually
touched by the beauty
of creation.
I desire to be closer to
God or in union with
the divine.
Generic Job Satisfaction Scale: Directions: Please select the number that best reflects your
answer for each question.
Question
Strongly
Disagree (1)
Disagree
(2)
Don’t
Know (3)
Agree
(4)
Strongly
Agree (5)
I receive recognition for a job
well done.
I feel close to the people at
work.
I feel good about working at
this company.
I feel secure about my job.
I believe management is
concerned about me.
On the whole, I believe work
is good for my physical health.
My wages are good.
All my talents and skills are
used at work.
I get along with my supervisors.
I feel good about my job.
