Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Yoly Zentella

Abstract

Researchers have conducted several studies of spirituality as it relates to individuals' coping strategies and resilience when facing life trauma. There is less research, however, on spirituality as it relates to adults' resiliency to daily non-traumatic stressors. The purposes of the current study were to examine the relationship between spirituality and adults' resilience to daily, non-traumatic stressors and assess whether gender has a moderating effect on this relationship. A quantitative correlational study based on Lazarus's transactional model of stress and coping using convenience sampling, an online survey (N= 94) was administered. Of the 94 participants ages 19 to 68, 66 were females. Almost half of the sample was African American (58.5%), single (43.6%), and (50%) living in urban areas. Data were collected through demographic questions, Reed's (1986) Spiritual Perspective Scale, Neill's (2006) Resilience Scale and Kanner et al. (1981) Daily Hassles Scale. Hypotheses were tested using bivariate correlations and multiple regression analysis measuring spirituality, resilience and daily stress. Spirituality did not significantly correlate with daily non-traumatic stress (p=0.07). However, the correlation between resiliency and daily non-traumatic stress significantly correlated negatively (p < 0.01). Gender positively influenced resiliency levels (p < 0.01) showing that females and males cope differently with daily non-traumatic stressors. Specifically, the negative relationship between resiliency and daily non-traumatic stressor is stronger for females (p=0.03) than for males (p < 0.001). Using study findings, mental health providers may be able to develop programs to improve adults' resilience to non-traumatic stressors, particularly utilizing the effects of gender on adults' coping skills.

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