African American Women at Midlife: the Relationship Between Spirituality and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

In order to examine the potential relationship between life satisfaction, spirituality and other demographic variables, 147 African American women from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan and Missouri were asked to complete the Adult Life Satisfaction Scale (ALSS) and the Black Women=s Spirituality/Religiosity Measure (BWSRM). In-depth interviews were also conducted with six African American women. Data obtained were subjected to correlated groups t test, Pearson r=s and regression analysis; content analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Although no significant difference was found among the ratings of life satisfaction and spirituality with respect to age or education level, the African American women did report higher levels of religiosity than spirituality which correlated significantly with life satisfaction. Analysis of a subscale of the BWSRM found that the women reported significantly higher levels of spirituality than religiosity. A moderate correlation was found between age and religiosity while spirituality was found to be a critical variable in contributing to life satisfaction in African American women at midlife, regardless of age, income or education. African American Women at Midlife: The Relationship Between Spirituality and Life SatisfactionAfrican American women share a history steeped in both oppression and spirituality. Subordination obviously has a deleterious effect on the potential of individuals to contribute to the well being of society (Akbar, 1991;West 1993). Currently, more African American women are being sent to prison than ever before and the percentage of African American women with AIDS/HIV is at an all time high (US Census Bureau, 1998). Life transitions also become more difficult and often it is only through the evolution of their spirituality that African American women achieve greater life satisfaction (Devi, 1994; Warfield-Coppack, 1995). Unfortunately, many religious belief systems and practices contribute to, rather than distract from, the stress experienced by African American women.The genesis of self help in the African American community was the ABlack church,@ which, for sake of clarity, is used to denote a community of churches with a membership that is predominately African American. Within this institution existed a dichotomous process and blend of African-centered focus and mainstream Euro-American doctrine and philosophy (Asante, 1990;Frazier, 1974;Karenga, 1988). Religion has been manifest as a political force, a protective factor and an educational and transformational vehicle (Collins, 1990;hooks, 1990;Karenga, 1988). And even though the majority of African Americans in the United States are protestant with a Judeo-Christian base, there are growing numbers of African American who affiliate or identify with Islam, ancient African religions as well as various nontraditional and unorthodox sects (Karenga, 1993).Several developmental theorists (Fodor, 1990;Jones, 1998;Ruffin, 1989) have alluded to the fact that African American women a...

Relationship between Spirituality and sensation seeking with tanatophobia in hemodialysis patients

“…[14]. In Starks and Hughey's study it was found that spirituality plays a role in life satisfaction in middle-aged African women, regardless of age, income and education [15]. Brillhart's research on relationships between spirituality, and life satisfaction on people with spinal cord injury showed a significant positive correlation between life satisfaction and psychological factors [16].…”