Citation

Ellis JB, Smith PC. Int. J. Soc. Psychiatry 1991; 37(1): 57-63.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/002076409103700108

PMID

2045243

Abstract

In order to explore the relationship between spirituality, social desirability, and reasons for living, 100 individuals completed the Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL), the Spiritual Well-being Scale (SWBS) and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS). Positive correlations were found between religious well-being and the total RFL score and Moral Objections subscale and between existential well-being and several RFL scales.

RESULTS indicate that the RFL Moral Objections subscale taps the same type of beliefs as does the SWBS religious well-being subscale. There also appears to be a strong relationship between the adaptive cognitive beliefs which people report as reasons for not considering suicide and their existential beliefs. This emphasises the need for careful assessment of individual needs and beliefs when dealing with suicidal individuals. Areas of concern to the therapist who is working with a suicidal client were not affected by high SD scores.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Female; Humans; Individuality; Male; Middle Aged; Motivation; Personality Inventory; Personality Tests; Psychometrics; Reference Values; Religion and Psychology; Social Desirability; Social Environment; Suicide; Suicide Prevention