26th Annual Student Research Conference
Measuring Emotions in Relation to Religious and Spiritual Preferences
Jessie A. Harney
Dr. Jeffrey Vittengl, Faculty Mentor
Previous research suggests that religious individuals report both higher levels of guilt and greater life satisfaction; however, the specific types of increased guilt are unclear. Undergraduate participants (N=160) completed a survey measuring religious/spiritual identification, interpersonal guilt, and life satisfaction. Participants identifying themselves as religious (vs. non-religious) experienced significantly more separation guilt as well as greater life satisfaction. However, non-religious individuals experienced more self-hate guilt. Thus, there is mixed support for the hypothesis that religious individuals experience more guilt and replication of their greater life satisfaction. Although the results are correlational and do not warrant causal interpretations, these findings clarify types of guilt associated with religiosity and suggest avenues for further research, including studying the functional relation between guilt and religion.
Keywords: interpersonal guilt, life satisfaction, religiosity, spirituality
Topic(s):Psychology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 3-1
Location: GEO
Time: 3:30