Measuring Spiritual Integrity in Turkish Culture: A Psychometric Approach to Understanding the Relationship Between Spirituality and Well-Being


OKAN N., EKŞİ F., Zengin E., EKŞİ H.

Journal of Religion and Health, cilt.64, sa.4, ss.3209-3235, 2025 (AHCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 64 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10943-025-02329-z
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Religion and Health
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, Periodicals Index Online, ATLA Religion Database, CINAHL, Index Islamicus, Psycinfo
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.3209-3235
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Moral values and alignment, Psychometric validation, Reliability and validity, Spiritual integrity, Turkish culture
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study examines the validity and reliability of the Spiritual Integrity Scale (SIS), a tool developed to assess the alignment between individuals’ spiritual values, beliefs, and behaviours. The study adopted a three-phase scale development approach, consisting of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and criterion validity and reliability assessments.The findings indicated that the SIS exhibits a single-factor structure with strong validity and reliability. The item loadings ranged from 0.63 to 0.83, explaining 54.99% of the total variance, while the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) value was 0.945 and Bartlett’s Test (p < 0.001) confirmed the data’s suitability for factor analysis. The CFA results demonstrated an adequate model fit (χ2/df = 2.897, RMSEA = 0.0, SRMR = 0.031).The Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient was 0.947, and the test–retest correlation was 0.84, indicating strong internal consistency and stability over time. Criterion validity was assessed using the Spiritual Psychological Robustness Scale, revealing a significant positive correlation (r = 0.448, p < 0.001), suggesting that higher spiritual integrity is associated with greater psychological resilience and well-being. These findings underscore the pivotal role of spiritual integrity in cultivating mental fortitude and existential stability. The SIS provides a validated tool for measuring spiritual alignment, offering practical applications for clinicians, counsellors and researchers seeking to explore the influence of spirituality on psychological well-being and personal growth. Furthermore, the scale’s strong psychometric properties establish it as a reliable instrument for evaluating spirituality’s role in mental resilience, guiding interventions aimed at enhancing holistic well-being. This study makes a significant contribution to the expanding body of literature on spirituality and psychological health, reinforcing the importance of spiritual integrity in fostering emotional balance, life satisfaction, and overall psychological resilience.