Psychology
The Relationship between Spirituality and Locus of Control
Document Type
Poster Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Psychology
Start Date
11-4-2014 12:00 PM
End Date
11-4-2014 12:59 PM
Sponsor
Jim Nelson (Valparaiso University)
Description
The relationship between spirituality and locus of control was studied because research is inconclusive about this relationship other than offering support that a relationship does exist. Some research has shown that spirituality is related to external locus of control while a lack of spirituality is related to internal locus of control (Fiori, et al., 2006). Similar definitions of locus of control and spirituality were used in order to find support or a lack of support for these findings. A cross comparison of participants who categorize themselves into different groups of spirituality allows for the examination of how people of various spiritual groups can be described as having internal or external locus of control. Undergraduate students were asked to complete questionnaires about spirituality and locus of control. These factors were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test to examine a direct relationship between the variables. A significant difference between the groups of participants of differing spiritualties and their locus of control was found. Participants who consider themselves atheist were found to have higher levels of internal locus of control versus participants who labeled themselves agnostic, unsure, spiritual, religious, or a combination of labels. Participants who described themselves as agnostic, unsure, spiritual, religious, and a combination of labels were found to have higher levels of external locus of control versus those who described themselves as atheists. These results offer support for past research and open opportunities for continuing the study of the relationship between spirituality and locus of control.
The Relationship between Spirituality and Locus of Control
Indianapolis, IN
The relationship between spirituality and locus of control was studied because research is inconclusive about this relationship other than offering support that a relationship does exist. Some research has shown that spirituality is related to external locus of control while a lack of spirituality is related to internal locus of control (Fiori, et al., 2006). Similar definitions of locus of control and spirituality were used in order to find support or a lack of support for these findings. A cross comparison of participants who categorize themselves into different groups of spirituality allows for the examination of how people of various spiritual groups can be described as having internal or external locus of control. Undergraduate students were asked to complete questionnaires about spirituality and locus of control. These factors were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA test to examine a direct relationship between the variables. A significant difference between the groups of participants of differing spiritualties and their locus of control was found. Participants who consider themselves atheist were found to have higher levels of internal locus of control versus participants who labeled themselves agnostic, unsure, spiritual, religious, or a combination of labels. Participants who described themselves as agnostic, unsure, spiritual, religious, and a combination of labels were found to have higher levels of external locus of control versus those who described themselves as atheists. These results offer support for past research and open opportunities for continuing the study of the relationship between spirituality and locus of control.