The relationship between spirituality and anxiety and psychological well-being

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between anxiety, spirituality, and psychological well-being in adults aged 18-65 living in Istanbul. The research method is a correlational research model, one of the quantitative research methods. The sample of the study consists of 603 adults (453 women and 150 men) aged 18-65 living in Istanbul. Personal Information Form, Spirituality Scale, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale, Psychological Well-Being Scale were used as data collection tools. The data were analysed with independent groups t test and ANOVA to determine the differences between groups. Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used for the relationship between variables and regression-based mediation macro (Process Model 4) was applied to analyse the direct and indirect roles of variables in mediation analysis. According to the findings obtained, psychological well-being scores of individuals did not show a significant difference according to their gender, but a significant difference was found in spirituality and anxiety scores. Accordingly, spirituality and anxiety scores of women are higher than men. A significant difference was found in spirituality, anxiety and psychological well-being scores according to marital status of individuals. Accordingly, spirituality and psychological well-being scores of married individuals and anxiety scores of single individuals were found to be higher. A significant difference was found in spirituality, anxiety and psychological well-being scores according to the diagnosis of anxiety disorder. Accordingly, the anxiety scores of those who were diagnosed were higher than those who were not diagnosed, and the psychological well-being and spirituality scores of those who were not diagnosed were higher than those who were diagnosed. A significant difference was found in spirituality, anxiety and psychological well-being scores according to the age levels of the individuals. Accordingly, individuals between the ages of 18-29 had higher anxiety scores than individuals between the ages of 41-65; individuals between the ages of 18-40 had lower spirituality and psychological well-being scores than individuals between the ages of 41-65. According to the results of the correlation analysis, it was determined that there was a negative and low level significant relationship between spirituality and anxiety, a positive and medium level significant relationship between psychological well-being and spirituality, and a negative and medium level significant relationship between psychological well-being and anxiety. According to the results of mediation analysis, psychological well-being of individuals predicted anxiety levels both in total and directly in a negative and significant level. The direct effect of psychological well-being on anxiety in the presence of spirituality as a mediating variable was also found to be significant. Spirituality partially mediated the relationship between psychological well-being and anxiety. The research findings were discussed and interpreted within the framework of the relevant literature and various suggestions were presented.