The relationship between faith maturity and life satisfaction

Background Studies have been conducted that conclude that having a more mature faith correlates to healthier psychological well-being and healthier personal relationships (Hill & Pargament, 2003; Okun & Stock, 1987; Powell & Pepper, 2015). A significant amount of research has been conducted on life satisfaction, however fewer studies have explored the relationship between life satisfaction and faith maturity. Hawkins, Tan, and Turk (1999) compared a secular inpatient cognitive-behavioral therapy program to a Christian inpatient cognitive-behavioral therapy program and discovered that there was a negative correlation between spiritual well-being and depression, but little has been done beyond this study to examine this relationship. Alessandri, Caprara, and Tisak (2012) also showed that there is a relationship between life orientation and life satisfaction, as well as self-esteem and life satisfaction. Methods and Procedures A survey was sent to the entire student body of 2,900 students at a Christian liberal arts university in the Midwest and 717 responses were received. The survey included questions from Benson, Donahue, and Erickson’s Faith Maturity Scale (1993), Diener, Emmons, Larsen, and Griffin’s Satisfaction with Life Scale (1985), Scheier, Carver, and Bridges’ Revised Life Orientation Test (1994), Rosenberg’s Self Esteem Scale (1965), and demographic questions. Results There was a statistically significant correlation between faith maturity and life satisfaction, although less variability in life satisfaction could be predicted from faith maturity than from self-esteem and life orientation. Using an independent samples t-test, it was found that the life satisfaction of participants in this study was greater than the participants in Diener, et al.’s (1985) study on life satisfaction. Conclusion A significant positive correlation was found between faith maturity and life satisfaction, although this correlation was slightly smaller than the other correlations that were assessed. It was also found that 18 percent of variability in life satisfaction could be predicted by faith maturity