Discipline: Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Subcategory: Social Sciences/Psychology/Economics
Session: 3
Room: Exhibit Hall A
Camryn Miller - Virginia State University
Co-Author(s): Montel Williams, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA
The purpose of the present study was to examine the ability of spirituality to predict cardiovascular activity. It was hypothesized that spirituality would significantly predict cardiovascular reactivity to the stressor. Forty-five African American men (N =9) and women (N = 36) college students between the ages of 18 and 29 participated in the study. Heart rate, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure were measured as the participants viewed a racially noxious scene on DVD. The Expressions of Spirituality Inventory (MacDonald, 2001) measured the degree to which a person possesses spiritual qualities on five dimensions: Cognitive Orientation towards Spirituality, Experiential/Phenomenological Dimension, Existential Well-Being, Paranormal Beliefs, and Religiousness. A Multiple Regression analysis revealed that the Cognitive Orientation towards Spirituality, the Experiential/Phenomenological, and the Paranormal dimensions were significant predictors of blood pressure and heart rate responses. These findings indicate that spirituality dimensions that defined spirituality on a cognitive basis and on a personal experientially basis protected the participants against the harmful physiological effects of stress. Contrarily, the paranormal dimension was associated with poor cardiovascular activity. Future research should suggest reviewing the effects of religious rituals on cardiovascular activity. References: MacDonald, Douglas A. 2011. Studying Spirituality Scientifically: Reflections, Considerations, Recommendations. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, 8, 195–210. Funder Acknowledgement(s): This study was supported, in part, by a grant from NSF/LSAMP awarded to A. Ansari, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA. Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Vernessa R. Clark, Vrclark@vsu.edu
Funder Acknowledgement(s): This study was supported, in part, by a grant from NSF/LSAMP awarded to A. Ansari, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA
Faculty Advisor: Vernessa R. Clark, vrclark@vsu.edu
Role: I analyzed and collected data for the study.