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Reliability and Validity of the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality Among Adolescents

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Abstract

Background Developed for use in health research, the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS) consists of brief measures of a broad range of religiousness and spirituality (R/S) dimensions. It has established psychometric properties among adults, but little is known about its appropriateness for use with adolescents. Purpose We assessed the psychometric properties of the BMMRS among adolescents. Method We recruited a racially diverse (85% non-White) sample of 305 adolescents aged 12–18 years (median 16 yrs, IQR 14–17) from 3 urban medical clinics; 93 completed a retest 1 week later. We assessed internal consistency and test–retest reliability. We assessed construct validity by examining how well the measures discriminated groups expected to differ based on self-reported religious preference, and how they related to a hypothesized correlate, depressive symptoms. Religious preference was categorized into “No religion/Atheist” (11%), “Don’t know/Confused” (9%), or “Named a religion” (80%). Results Responses to multi-item measures were generally internally consistent (alpha ≥0.70 for 12/16 measures) and stable over 1 week (intraclass correlation coefficients ≥0.70 for 14/16). Forgiveness, Negative R/S Coping, and Commitment items showed lower internal cohesiveness. Scores on most measures were higher (p < 0.05) among those who “Named a religion” compared to the “No religion/Atheist” group. Forgiveness, Commitment, and Anticipated Support from members of one’s congregation were inversely correlated with depressive symptoms, while BMMRS measures assessing negative R/S experiences (Negative R/S Coping, Negative Interactions with others in congregation, Loss in Faith) were positively correlated with depressive symptoms. Conclusions These findings suggest that most BMMRS measures are reliable and valid for use among adolescents.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grant #R21 AA13029 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Fetzer Institute. Other support was provided by grant #K07 AA013280 from NIAAA (JRK), and Maternal and Child Health Bureau grants #5T20MC000-11-06 (JRK) and #5T71MC 00009-10 (SKH). The authors thank Betsy Gates, BA, Sarah Rosenberg, BA, Katherine O’Connor, BA, and Allison Arneill, MA for their assistance in study implementation; the clinicians and staff of the Adolescent/Young Adult Medical Practice at Children’s Hospital Boston, the Adolescent Clinic at the Floating Hospital for Children, and the Adolescent Clinic at the Martha Eliot Health Center for assistance in recruitment; Ken C. Winters, PhD for consultation on the study measurement battery, and Lynn Underwood, PhD for her helpful review of the draft manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Sion Kim Harris, Lon R. Sherritt, David W. Holder, Lydia A. Shrier & John R. Knight

  2. Division on Addictions, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Sion Kim Harris, Lon R. Sherritt & John R. Knight

  3. Center for Adolescent Substance Abuse Research, Children’s Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Sion Kim Harris, Lon R. Sherritt & John R. Knight

  4. Division of Developmental Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Sion Kim Harris, Lon R. Sherritt & John R. Knight

  5. Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Sion Kim Harris, Lydia A. Shrier & John R. Knight

  6. Division of General Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    David W. Holder

  7. Department of Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    John Kulig

  8. Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    John Kulig

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  1. Sion Kim Harris
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  2. Lon R. Sherritt
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Correspondence to Sion Kim Harris.

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This study was presented in part at the Society of Behavioral Medicine 2006 Annual Meeting.

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Harris, S.K., Sherritt, L.R., Holder, D.W. et al. Reliability and Validity of the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality Among Adolescents. J Relig Health 47, 438–457 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-007-9154-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-007-9154-x

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