The Effects of Interpersonal Differences Within Religious Communities: A Group Actor-Partner Interdependence Model of U.S. Congregations

Abstract

This study examined how the composition of religious communities influences the spiritual outcomes of members. The U.S. Congregational Life Survey was analyzed using the group actorpartner interdependence model, an analysis that assesses how individual-level outcomes are influenced by (a) the actor's characteristics, (b) the characteristics of other congregants, (c) the relational demography of the actor, and (d) the degree that other congregants differ among themselves. This model, including both surface-level (e.g., demographic) and deep-level (e.g., theological belief) attributes, allowed for the estimation of distinct effects for actor and group similarity, which have been confounded in prior research. Relational demography was found to be positively related to one's needs being met on nearly all measured items. In contrast, a lack of diversity in terms of deep-level constructs (e.g., theological belief and worship preference) predicted less belonging and less satisfaction. These results suggest that religious communities may offer an important setting to benefit from exposure to varied beliefs and values.If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) NIV) Social involvement in a religious community has long been proposed to play a critical role in the formation of individual-level beliefs (Durkheim, 1912(Durkheim, /1926, as well as being a strong Correspondence should be sent to Benjamin R. Meagher,

Estimating the effect of emotional intelligence in wellbeing among priests

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Determinants of Muslim consumers’ halal cosmetics repurchase intention: an emerging market’s perspective

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