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Personal Spiritual Values and Quality of Life: Evidence from Chinese College Students

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Abstract

Values are guiding principles in our life. While some studies found spiritual values to be “healthier,” Sagiv and Schwartz (Eur J Soc Psychol 30:177–198, 2000) showed that people holding non-spiritual values were higher on affective well-being. We examined the predictive power of these two types of values with a longitudinal data set collected from Chinese students mainly in Hong Kong. Structural equation modeling revealed that spiritual values (as well as family income) positively predicted quality of life a year later. Non-spiritual, self-enhancement values, did not show any association. Results suggest that developing spiritual values may promote well-being through enabling individuals to find meaning and purpose in life.

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Notes

  1. This model did not meet the stringent criteria of model testing, χ 2 = 605.14, df = 239, p < .001; RMSEA = .05 (90 % CI = .05–.06); Cfit p = .32; CFI = .90; SRMR = .05. However, the paths linking religion to spiritual values and QoL were not significant, while the path coefficient from spiritual values to QoL was unchanged.

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Acknowledgments

This work is partially supported by a seed grant from the University of Hong Kong to the second author and partially by a private donation in support of research by the second and fourth author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andrew & Grace Education Consultancy and Community Services, Singapore, Singapore

    Kaili Chen Zhang

  2. The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    C. Harry Hui, Jasmine Lam & Esther Yuet Ying Lau

  3. University of Macao, Macao, China

    Shu-fai Cheung & Doris Shui Ying Mok

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Correspondence to Kaili Chen Zhang.

Appendix: Factor Loadings in EFA of Final Items Used in Measurement and Structural Models in Subsample 1

Appendix: Factor Loadings in EFA of Final Items Used in Measurement and Structural Models in Subsample 1

I. Spiritual Values (Cronbach’s α = .82)

  • a. Benevolence: Honest (“genuine, sincere”; .64), helpful (“working for the welfare of others”; .69), responsible (“dependable, reliable”; .63)

  • b. Conformity: Politeness (“courtesy, good manners”; .61), self-discipline (“self-restraint, resistance to temptation”; .53), honoring parents and elders (“showing respect”; .62), obedience (“dutiful, meeting obligations”; .62)

  • c. Tradition: Moderate (“avoiding extremes of feeling and action”; .36), humble (“modest, self-effacing”; .48), accepting one’s portion in life (“submitting to life’s circumstances”; .62)

  • d. Universalism

    • i. Nature: Unity with nature (“fitting into nature”; .96), a world of beauty (“beauty of nature and the arts”; .52), protecting the environment (“preserving nature”; .59)

    • ii. Social concern: Equality (“equal opportunity for all”; .41), world at peace (“free of war and conflict”; .66), social justice (“correcting injustice, care for the weak”; .65)

II. Self-Enhancement Values (α = .82)

  • a. Achievement: Capable (“competent, effective, efficient”; .88), intelligent (“logical, thinking”; .58), successful (“achieving goals”; .63)

  • b. Hedonism: Pleasure (“gratification of desires”; .61), enjoying life (“enjoying food, sex, leisure, etc.”; .67)

  • c. Power

    • i. Social influence: Authority (“the right to lead or command”; .97), social power (“control over others, dominance”; .76)

    • ii. Social status: preserving my public image (“protecting my face”; .48), social recognition (“respect, approval by others”; .95)

III. Quality of Life (α = .81)

  • a. Physical health (.66)

  • b. Psychological health (.90)

  • c. Social relationship (.66)

  • d. Environment (.69)

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Zhang, K.C., Hui, C.H., Lam, J. et al. Personal Spiritual Values and Quality of Life: Evidence from Chinese College Students. J Relig Health 53, 986–1002 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9686-1

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