Date of Award

12-1986

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

Abstract

This research investigated the effects of acculturation and age on Spiritual Well-Being among ethnic Chinese church-goers. Subjects consisted of 169 ethnic Chinese church-goers and English readers ages 18 - 55 from four Chinese churches in the Northwest United States. The response rate was 93.9% of the 180 initially selected subjects.

The subjects completed a survey questionnaire that included demographic information, background information, and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWB). The SWB consisted of two subscales: the Religious Well-Being (RWB) Scale and the Existential Well-Being (EWB) Scale.

born had significantly greater (_E.<.05) EWB than subjects who had lived in the U.S. 5 years or less. Age was significantly related to SWB and EWB; and subjects 26 years old or above had significantly higher SWB and EWB scores than subjects 18 - 25 years old.

Religious commitment, and importance of religion were related to greater SWB, RWB, and EWB. Frequency of church attendance was related to SWB and RWB but not EWB. In addition, up to a certain point, frequency of personal devotions, religious knowledge, and application of Bible principles were related to greater SWB, RWB, and EWB. Years as a Christian was related to greater SWB, RWB, and EWB. Present family closeness among married subjects was related to greater SWB and EWB, but family closeness while growing up did not. Subjects employed full-time had significantly greater SWB and EWB than students. Financially independent subjects had significantly greater SWB and EWB than totally dependent subjects. An additional contribution of this study was that it provided SWB means and standard deviations for another sample. These scores will allow comparisons with other research samples.

Discussion topics included the effects of acculturation on SWB; the relationship of age, employment status, financial independence, and SWB; the relationship of religious commitment and practices to SWB; an explanation for partially supported hypotheses; and a discussion of inconclusive findings. An appeal was made for both Chinese and non-Chinese churches to assist new immigrants.

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