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Protocol - Religious Behaviors and Congregational Support

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Description

The Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirit (BMMRS) is a 29-item self-administered scale that measures multiple aspects of religiousness and spirituality. It has subscales which may be used individually or together to suit a researcher’s needs. Lower scale scores indicate higher levels of spirituality and religious practices.

Specific Instructions

None

Availability

Available

Protocol

Daily Spiritual Experiences

The following questions deal with possible spiritual experiences. To what extent can you say you experience the following:

1. I feel the presence of a higher power.
   [ ] 1 Many times a day
   [ ] 2 Every day
   [ ] 3 Most days
   [ ] 4 Some days
   [ ] 5 Once in a while
   [ ] 6 Never or almost never

2. I find strength and comfort in my religion.
   [ ] 1 Many times a day
   [ ] 2 Every day
   [ ] 3 Most days
   [ ] 4 Some days
   [ ] 5 Once in a while
   [ ] 6 Never or almost never

3. I feel deep inner peace or harmony.
   [ ] 1 Many times a day
   [ ] 2 Every day
   [ ] 3 Most days
   [ ] 4 Some days
   [ ] 5 Once in a while
   [ ] 6 Never or almost never

4. I desire to be closer to or in union with a higher power.
   [ ] 1 Many times a day
   [ ] 2 Every day
   [ ] 3 Most days
   [ ] 4 Some days
   [ ] 5 Once in a while
   [ ] 6 Never or almost never

5. I feel the love of a higher power for me, directly or through others.
   [ ] 1 Many times a day
   [ ] 2 Every day
   [ ] 3 Most days
   [ ] 4 Some days
   [ ] 5 Once in a while
   [ ] 6 Never or almost never

6. I am spiritually touched by the beauty of creation.
   [ ] 1 Many times a day
   [ ] 2 Every day
   [ ] 3 Most days
   [ ] 4 Some days
   [ ] 5 Once in a while
   [ ] 6 Never or almost never

Values/Beliefs

7. I believe in a higher power who watches over me.
   [ ] 1 Strongly agree
   [ ] 2 Agree
   [ ] 3 Disagree
   [ ] 4 Strongly disagree

8. I feel a deep sense of responsibility for reducing pain and suffering in the world.
   [ ] 1 Strongly agree
   [ ] 2 Agree
   [ ] 3 Disagree
   [ ] 4 Strongly disagree

Forgiveness

Because of my religious or spiritual beliefs:

9. I have forgiven myself for things that I have done wrong.
   [ ] 1 Always or almost always
   [ ] 2 Often
   [ ] 3 Seldom
   [ ] 4 Never

10. I have forgiven those who hurt me.
   [ ] 1 Always or almost always
   [ ] 2 Often
   [ ] 3 Seldom
   [ ] 4 Never

11. I know that I am forgiven by a higher power.
   [ ] 1 Always or almost always
   [ ] 2 Often
   [ ] 3 Seldom
   [ ] 4 Never

Private Religious Practices

12. How often do you pray privately in places other than a place of worship or faith institution?
   [ ] 1 More than once a day
   [ ] 2 Once a day
   [ ] 3 A few times a week
   [ ] 4 Once a week
   [ ] 5 A few times a month
   [ ] 6 Once a month
   [ ] 7 Less than once a month
   [ ] 8 Never

13. Within your religious or spiritual tradition, how often do you meditate?
   [ ] 1 More than once a day
   [ ] 2 Once a day
   [ ] 3 A few times a week
   [ ] 4 Once a week
   [ ] 5 A few times a month
   [ ] 6 Once a month
   [ ] 7 Less than once a month
   [ ] 8 Never

14. How often do you watch or listen to religious programs on TV or radio?
   [ ] 1 More than once a day
   [ ] 2 Once a day
   [ ] 3 A few times a week
   [ ] 4 Once a week
   [ ] 5 A few times a month
   [ ] 6 Once a month
   [ ] 7 Less than once a month
   [ ] 8 Never

15. How often do you read the Bible or other religious literature?
   [ ] 1 More than once a day
   [ ] 2 Once a day
   [ ] 3 A few times a week
   [ ] 4 Once a week
   [ ] 5 A few times a month
   [ ] 6 Once a month
   [ ] 7 Less than once a month
   [ ] 8 Never

16. How often are prayers or grace said before or after meals in your home?
   [ ] 1 At all meals
   [ ] 2 Once a day
   [ ] 3 At least once a week
   [ ] 4 Only on special occasions
   [ ] 5 Never

Religious and Spiritual Coping

Think about how you try to understand and deal with major problems in your life. To what extent is each of the following involved in the way you cope?

17. I think about how my life is part of a larger spiritual force.
   [ ] 1 A great deal
   [ ] 2 Quite a bit
   [ ] 3 Somewhat
   [ ] 4 Not at all

18. I work together with a higher power as partners.
   [ ] 1 A great deal
   [ ] 2 Quite a bit
   [ ] 3 Somewhat
   [ ] 4 Not at all

19. I look to a higher power for strength, support, and guidance.
   [ ] 1 A great deal
   [ ] 2 Quite a bit
   [ ] 3 Somewhat
   [ ] 4 Not at all

20. I feel I am being punished by a higher power for my sins or lack of spirituality.
   [ ] 1 A great deal
   [ ] 2 Quite a bit
   [ ] 3 Somewhat
   [ ] 4 Not at all

21. I wonder whether I have been abandoned by a higher power.
   [ ] 1 A great deal
   [ ] 2 Quite a bit
   [ ] 3 Somewhat
   [ ] 4 Not at all

22. I try to make sense of the situation and decide what to do without relying on a higher power.
   [ ] 1 A great deal
   [ ] 2 Quite a bit
   [ ] 3 Somewhat
   [ ] 4 Not at all

23. To what extent is your religion involved in understanding or dealing with stressful situations in any way?
   [ ] 1 A great deal
   [ ] 2 Quite a bit
   [ ] 3 Somewhat
   [ ] 4 Not at all

Religious Support

These questions are designed to find out how much help the people in your congregation would provide if you need it in the future.

24. If you were ill, how much would the people in your congregation help you out?
   [ ] 1 A great deal
   [ ] 2 Some
   [ ] 3 A little
   [ ] 4 None

25. If you had a problem or were faced with a difficult situation, how much comfort would the people in your congregation be willing to give you?
   [ ] 1 A great deal
   [ ] 2 Some
   [ ] 3 A little
   [ ] 4 None

Sometimes the contact we have with others is not always pleasant.

26. How often do the people in your congregation make too many demands on you?
   [ ] 1 Very often
   [ ] 2 Fairly often
   [ ] 3 Once in a while
   [ ] 4 Never

27. How often are the people in your congregation critical of you and the things you do?
   [ ] 1 Very often
   [ ] 2 Fairly often
   [ ] 3 Once in a while
   [ ] 4 Never

Organizational Religiousness

28. How often do you go to religious services?
   [ ] 1 More than once a week
   [ ] 2 Every week or more often
   [ ] 3 Once or twice a month
   [ ] 4 Every month or so
   [ ] 4 Once or twice a year
   [ ] 6 Never

29. Besides religious services, how often do you take part in other activities at a place of worship?
   [ ] 1 More than once a week
   [ ] 2 Every week or more often
   [ ] 3 Once or twice a month
   [ ] 4 Every month or so
   [ ] 4 Once or twice a year
   [ ] 6 Never

Scoring Instructions

Subscales can be scored independently, or an overall score may be generated by standardizing items and then summing them. For all scale scores, lower scores are indicative of higher levels of spirituality and religious practices. For an overall sum score, lower scores represent low levels of spirituality and religion, and higher scores represent greater levels of spirituality and religion.

Standardizing the items will make conducting further factor analyses possible. Scores can be standardized either using z-scores or so that their scaling is equivalent (i.e., each item scaled on a range of 0 to 3). The five subscales consisting of a 4-point answer format (Meaning, Values/Beliefs, Forgiveness, Religious and Spiritual Coping, and Religious Support) may be transformed from a 1 to 4 range to a 0 to 3 range by subtracting 1.0 from the actual score for each item. For the Daily Spiritual Experience and Organizational Religiousness subscales, which had a 6-point response format, 1.0 can be subtracted from the actual score, which can then be multiplied by 3/5. For the four items that used an 8-point range on the Private Religious Practices scale, 1.0 can be subtracted from the actual score, which can then be multiplied by 3/7. For one item with a 5-point range on Private Religious Practices, 1.0 can be subtracted from the actual score, which may then be multiplied by ¾.

Personnel and Training Required

None

Equipment Needs

None

Requirements
Requirement CategoryRequired
Major equipment No
Specialized training No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual No
Mode of Administration

Self-administered questionnaire

Lifestage

Adolescent, Adult

Participants

Adults aged 18 and older and adolescents aged 12-17 years

Selection Rationale

The 29-item Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirit (BMMRS) includes multiple dimensions of religiousness and spirituality and is validated across religions and globally. It has been validated in diverse adult and adolescent populations, across multiple races (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and other races) and faiths (e.g., Judaism, Christianity and Buddhism). BMMRS has positive and negative religious coping subscales. Research shows adequate/good reliability for religious coping as a whole, and positive/negative coping subscales separately.

Language

English, Other languages available at source

Standards
StandardNameIDSource
Derived Variables

None

Process and Review

Not Applicable

Protocol Name from Source

Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS)

Source

Johnstone, B., Yoon, D. P., Franklin, K. L., Schopp, L., & Hinkebein, J. (2009). Re-conceptualizing the factor structure of the brief multidimensional measure of religiousness/spirituality. Journal of religion and health, 48(2), 146–163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9179-9

General References

Chatters, L. M. (2000). Religion and health: Public health research and practice. Annual Review of Public Health, 21(1), 335-367. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.21.1.335

Fetzer Institute, & National Institute on Aging Working Group. (2003) Multidimensional measurement of religiousness/spirituality for use in health research: A Report of the Fetzer Institute/National Institute on Aging Working Group. https://fetzer.org/sites/default/files/images/resources/attachment/%5Bcurrent-date%3Atiny%5D/Multidimensional_Measurement_of_Religousness_Spirituality.pdf (Original work published 1999)

Harris, S. K., Sherritt, L. R., Holder, D. W., Kulig, J., Shrier, L. A., & Knight, J. R. (2008). Reliability and validity of the brief multidimensional measure of religiousness/spirituality among adolescents. Journal of Religion and Health, 47(4), 438–457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-007-9154-x

Idler, E., Musick, M., Ellison, C., George, L., Krause, N., Levin, J., Ory, M., Pargament, K., Powell, L., Williams, D., & Underwood, L. (2001). Measure of religiousness and spirituality for health research: conceptual background and findings from the 1998 General Social Survey. (GSS Topical Report No 33). NORC at the University of Chicago. https://gss.norc.org/Documents/reports/topical-reports/TR33.pdf

Levin, J. S., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (1995). A multidimensional measure of religious involvement for African Americans. The Sociological Quarterly, 36(1), 157-173. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4121282

Mattis, J. S., & Jagers, R. J. (2001, September). A relational framework for the study of religiosity and spirituality in the lives of African Americans [Special issue]. Journal of Community Psychology, 29(5), 519-539.  https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.1034

Oman, D. (Ed.). (2018). Why religion and spirituality matter for public health: Evidence, implications, and resources. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73966-3

Protocol ID

281601

Variables
Export Variables
Variable Name Variable IDVariable DescriptiondbGaP Mapping
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Beliefs_Forgive_By_Higher_Power
PX281601040300 Because of my religious or spiritual more
beliefs: I know that I am forgiven by a higher power. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Beliefs_Forgive_Others
PX281601040200 Because of my religious or spiritual more
beliefs: I have forgiven those who hurt me. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Beliefs_Forgive_Self
PX281601040100 Because of my religious or spiritual more
beliefs: I have forgiven myself for things that I have done wrong. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Believe_Higher_Power_Watches
PX281601020000 I believe in a higher power who watches over me. N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Experience_Beauty_Creation
PX281601010600 The following questions deal with possible more
spiritual experiences. To what extent can you say you experience the following: I am spiritually touched by the beauty of creation. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Experience_Desire_Union_Higher_Power
PX281601010400 The following questions deal with possible more
spiritual experiences. To what extent can you say you experience the following: I desire to be closer to or in union with a higher power. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Experience_Higher_Power
PX281601010100 The following questions deal with possible more
spiritual experiences. To what extent can you say you experience the following: I feel the presence of a higher power. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Experience_Inner_Peace_Harmony
PX281601010300 The following questions deal with possible more
spiritual experiences. To what extent can you say you experience the following: I feel deep inner peace or harmony. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Experience_Love_Higher_Power
PX281601010500 The following questions deal with possible more
spiritual experiences. To what extent can you say you experience the following: I feel the love of a higher power for me, directly or through others. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Experience_Strength_Comfort
PX281601010200 The following questions deal with possible more
spiritual experiences. To what extent can you say you experience the following: I find strength and comfort in my religion. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Go_Religious_Services
PX281601110000 How often do you go to religious services? N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Ill_People_Help
PX281601090100 These questions are designed to find out how more
much help the people in your congregation would provide if you need it in the future. If you were ill, how much would the people in your congregation help you out? show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Meditate
PX281601060000 Within your religious or spiritual more
tradition, how often do you meditate? show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Other_Activities
PX281601120000 Besides religious services, how often do you more
take part in other activities at a place of worship? show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Prayer_Before_After_Meal
PX281601070300 How often are prayers or grace said before more
or after meals in your home? show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Pray_Privately
PX281601050000 How often do you pray privately in places more
other than a place of worship or faith institution? show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Problem_People_Comfort
PX281601090200 These questions are designed to find out how more
much help the people in your congregation would provide if you need it in the future. If you had a problem or were faced with a difficult situation, how much comfort would the people in your congregation be willing to give you? show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Read_Literature
PX281601070200 How often do you read the Bible or other more
religious literature? show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Responsibility_Reduce_Pain
PX281601030000 I feel a deep sense of responsibility for more
reducing pain and suffering in the world. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Understanding_Cope_Extent_Involve_Stressful_Situation
PX281601080700 To what extent is your religion involved in more
understanding or dealing with stressful situations in any way? show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Understanding_Cope_Feel_Punished
PX281601080400 Think about how you try to understand and more
deal with major problems in your life. To what extent is each of the following involved in the way you cope? I feel I am being punished by a higher power for my sins or lack of spirituality. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Understanding_Cope_Life_Larger_Spiritual_Force
PX281601080100 Think about how you try to understand and more
deal with major problems in your life. To what extent is each of the following involved in the way you cope? I think about how my life is part of a larger spiritual force. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Understanding_Cope_Look_Higher_Power_Guidance
PX281601080300 Think about how you try to understand and more
deal with major problems in your life. To what extent is each of the following involved in the way you cope? I look to a higher power for strength, support, and guidance. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Understanding_Cope_Make_Sense_Without_Higher_Power
PX281601080600 Think about how you try to understand and more
deal with major problems in your life. To what extent is each of the following involved in the way you cope? I try to make sense of the situation and decide what to do without relying on a higher power. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Understanding_Cope_Wonder_Abandoned_Higher_Power
PX281601080500 Think about how you try to understand and more
deal with major problems in your life. To what extent is each of the following involved in the way you cope? I wonder whether I have been abandoned by a higher power. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Understanding_Cope_Work_Higher_Power
PX281601080200 Think about how you try to understand and more
deal with major problems in your life. To what extent is each of the following involved in the way you cope? I work together with a higher power as partners. show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Unpleasant_People_Critical
PX281601100200 Sometimes the contact we have with others is more
not always pleasant. How often are the people in your congregation critical of you and the things you do? show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Unpleasant_Too_Many_Demands
PX281601100100 Sometimes the contact we have with others is more
not always pleasant. How often do the people in your congregation make too many demands on you? show less
N/A
PX281601_Religious_Behaviors_Congregational_Support_Watch_Listen_Program_TV_Radio
PX281601070100 How often do you watch or listen to more
religious programs on TV or radio? show less
N/A
Individual Social Determinants of Health
Measure Name

Religious Behaviors and Congregational Support

Release Date

December 14, 2022

Definition

This is a measure assessing an individual’s daily spiritual experiences, values/beliefs, organizational and non-organizational religious practices, and religious congregational support. It also asks about the person’s religious history.

Purpose

Health studies have found associations between organizational religious attendance and physical health indicators, including hypertension, functional ability, and overall mortality. Nonorganizational religious involvement has also been associated with physical health status and psychological well-being. Various aspects of religiousness and spirituality may improve coping and subjective well-being, lower levels of depression and distress, and reduce morbidity and mortality. Conversely, some types of beliefs and experiences may undermine health and well-being, (e.g., shame and guilt). Frequent contact with the social network of the congregation may make social support more readily available and provide understanding and comfort in times of crisis.

Keywords

Fetzer Institute, National Institute on Aging, Spirituality, spiritual experiences, Religion, religiosity, religious practices, prayer, higher power, spiritual well-being, depression, distress, morbidity, mortality, values, beliefs, coping, forgiveness, support, place of worship

Measure Protocols
Protocol ID Protocol Name
281601 Religious Behaviors and Congregational Support
Publications

Burnett-Bowie, S. A. M., et al. (2024) The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Task Force on clinical algorithms for fracture risk report. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2024 May; 39(5): 517-530. doi: 10.1093/jbmr/zjae048

Bartholomew, T. S., et al. (2024) Project CHARIOT: study protocol for a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation study of comprehensive tele-harm reduction for engagement of people who inject drugs in HIV prevention services Addiction Science & Clinical Practice. 2024 March; 19(1). doi: 10.1186/s13722-024-00447-9