The relationship of spiritual wellbeing, loneliness, and relationship satisfaction, to life contentment

Abstract

There is an identified need for spirituality to be taught in mental health therapy programs. Spirituality is about the connectedness we feel and the relationships we establish with self, others, and the universe. This study examined the relationship of spiritual well being, loneliness, and relationship satisfaction to life contentment. Each of the eighty-one respondents enrolled at VPI completed the "Spiritual Well being Scale" and "Abbreviated Loneliness Scale" (Paloutzian & Ellison, ] 982), "Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale" (Schumm, 1983), and the "Hudson Generalized Contentment Scale" (Hudson, 1982). Using these measures as well as the demographic variables age, income, and children a path model was developed. Correlation and regression analysis determined that age, income, children, spiritual well being, loneliness and relationship satisfaction were significant predictors of life contentment.