The relationship between spirituality, life goals and well-being

The current study aimed to examine the relationships among spirituality, life goals and well-being of undergraduates. Quantitative design was the design of the study. Expressions of Spirituality Inventory, Life Goals Scale and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale were employed as data collection tools. The participants were 600 undergraduates (343 female, 257 male) of the ages of 17 – 30, studying at different faculties and departments of a university in Central Black Sea Region. Convenience sampling was embraced since it provides easiness for the researcher. The data were analyzed via SPSS and AMOS. String variables and structural equation modeling were used to test the hypotheses and predictability. Also, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was performed on the relations among the variables. T-test and one–way MANOVA were performed to examine the variables by gender. The results showed that only phenomenological dimension of Expressions of Spirituality Inventory was found higher in males. The rest of the variables showed no significant differences though. Well-being was found higher in the males than in the females. The analyses of the relationships among variables showed that spirituality, life goals and well-being were positively related and spirituality positively predicted both intrinsic life goals and well-being. There was a positive relation between intrinsic/extrinsic life goals and well-being. Extrinsic life goals and intrinsic life goals were predicted well-being. Intrinsic life goals were also found to have a mediating role between spirituality and well-being. Remarkable contextual structures among spirituality, life goals and well-being were observed, the current study is thought to contribute a lot to positive psychology and also to future researches on spirituality and life goals. The results may be utilized in practices by academicians, programmers, advisors and researchers.