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Religious orientation and meaning in life
Author(s) -
Soderstrom Doug,
Wright E. Wayne
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(197701)33:1+<65::aid-jclp2270330113>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - psychology , religious orientation , meaning (existential) , orientation (vector space) , social psychology , purpose in life , psychoanalysis , cognitive psychology , psychotherapist , geometry , mathematics
This study tested the general hypothesis that a mature religious commitment should aid youth in their search for meaning in life. The investigators administered a questionnaire to 427 college freshman and sophomores between the ages of 18 and 20 in six midwestern colleges. The results indicated that intrinsically motivated S s, committed S s, and true believers had significantly higher Purpose in Life mean test scores than did extrinsically motivated S s, uncommitted S s, and unbelievers. The results also indicated that religious integration (moral commitment paired with spiritual commitment) is indicative of meaning in life. The study concluded that a mature religious commitment should aid youth in their search for meaning in life.