Spiritual dwelling and well-being: the mediating role of differentiation of self in a sample of distressed adults

Abstract

The current study tested a theoretical model of the relationship between spiritual dwelling and well-being, with differentiation of self (DoS) as a mediator variable. The proposed model is informed by a theory of differentiation-based spirituality, and therefore examined the hypothesis that DoS would significantly mediate the relationship between spiritual dwelling and negative mood. It was also hypothesised that DoS would not mediate the relationship between spiritual dwelling and positive mood. Data were collected on a sample of distressed graduate students at a Protestant-affiliated university. Results supported the two hypotheses, thereby offering support for the differentiation-based spirituality premise that the mechanism by which spiritual dwelling is associated with well-being involves the capacity to regulate negative emotion. Findings are discussed within the context of existing mediation models in the literature and the implications for future research on DoS and spirituality.

Keywords:

• differentiation of self
• spiritual dwelling
• well-being
• graduate students

Acknowledgements

This project was supported by a grant from the Fetzer Institute (#2266).