The Validation of a Spanish Version of the Multidimensional Inventory of Religious/Spiritual Well-Being in Mexican College Students

Abstract

AbstractAfter the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well-Being (MI-RSWB) was validated as a reliable instrument for the Western European context it is primarily intended in this study to translate the measure into Spanish and adapt it for the Mexican culture. Furthermore we investigate whether spirituality/religiosity has a similar impact on indicators of personality and subjective well-being in Mexico as it does in samples drawn from Western European cultures. 190 students (99 females) from public and private universities in Guadalajara, all Mexican citizens, were involved in this study. We found strong evidential support for the six factor solution of the Original MI-RSWB in this Mexican population. By mirroring previous research the measure showed a highly satisfying internal consistency (α = .91 for the total score and .75 or higher for all six sub dimensions). Furthermore the total RSWB score was observed to be related with Eysenck’s personality dimensions Extraversion (r = .24, p < .01), and Psychoticism (r = –.28, p < .001), although not with Neuroticism. There was also a positive correlation with Sense of Coherence (r = .31, p < .001). In conclusion, the dimensionality of RSWB and its associations with personality and subjective well-being was well supported in this first application within a Mexican cultural context.