Humility and Relational Spirituality as Predictors of Well-Being among Christian Seminary Students. Issue 4 (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ruffing, Elizabeth G.; Oleson, Dottie; Tomlinson, James; Park, Seong Hyun; Sandage, Steven J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychology and theology. Volume 49:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 419
• Page End: 435
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: humility -- seminary -- relational spirituality -- spiritual formation -- differentiation of self -- quest; Psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Religious -- Periodicals; 253.5019
• DOI: 10.1177/0091647121988968
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-6471

Abstract

The present study investigated the unique contributions of relational spirituality and humility factors to seminary students' eudaimonic well-being in a diverse sample ( n = 111) of urban seminary students. Hypotheses were developed in conversation with this research on humility, seminary student formation, and virtue ethics. As hypothesized, the relational spirituality factors of differentiation of self and quest exploration each made a significant independent contribution in predicting students' well-being over and above impression management. In addition, humility-cultivating practices and dispositional humility were modestly correlated and each made a significant independent contribution in predicting well-being over and above relational spirituality factors and impression management. Implications for future research and for seminary student formation are discussed.