Identity characteristics of groups with high and low spiritual self-identity

Identity Characteristics. The 22 Identity Characteristics used by Sampson ( 1978) to obtain ratings of their internal-external location and their importance as aspects of self-identity are listed in Table 1. The participants rated the items "in terms of their importance in your sense of who you are." The response categories on the rating scale were 1=not at all important, 2=somewhat important, 3=moderately important, 4=very important, and 5=extremely important.

DATA ANALYSIS

The participants were divided into three groups of approximately equal size according to their Spiritual Self-identity scores. The upper and lower groups were retained for the analysis and were designated as the high Spiritual Self-identity group (n = 28) and the low Spiritual Self identity group (n = 40) respectively. These groups were used to make comparisons among the Identity Characteristics.

A 2 (sex) X 2 (group) X 22 (Identity Characteristic) split-plot analysis of variance was completed. Sex and the high and low Spiritual Self identity groups represented between-subjects factors, and the Identity Characteristics constituted a withinsubjects factor. Post hoc comparisons, both to identify significant differences between the high and low Spiritual Self identity groups on each of the Identity Characteristics, and to find significant differences among the ratings of the 22 Identity Characteristics, were made using Fisher's LSD test.

DISCUSSION

The mean ratings of the importance of the various Identity Characteristics toward self-identity varied across a wide range. For example, for the combined group, the mean ratings ranged from 2.29 for things I own, my possessions to 4.82 for my values and ethics, respectively. The mean rating of 5.00 and the standard deviation of .00 obtained for the phrase my religion or religious beliefs and feelings indicated that it received the highest possible rating of importance by all of those in the high Spiritual Self-identity group.

The size of the mean ratings showed that all 22 Identity Characteristics were rated in their importance to self identity to be at least a 2 on the scale (somewhat important), and 17 of the 22 characteristics were rated to be between a 3 (moderately important) and a 4 (extremely important). Thus, the Identity Characteristics appeared to be relevant to self-identity.

The post hoc comparisons identified groups of Identity Characteristics according to the mean ratings of importance by the combined group. For the participants, my values and ethics and my religion or religious beliefs and feelings were rated as the most important in defining self. This was true for those in both the high and low Spiritual Self-identity groups, although both characteristics were also rated significantly higher by the high Spiritual Self identity group. Ethics and religious beliefs were rated the most important aspects of self-identity, irrespective of the person's scores on Spiritual Self identity.

The next cluster of Identity Characteristics in terms of their importance to identity consisted of my future goals and aspirations; my family; my thoughts and ideas, the way my mind works; and my emotions and feelings. All of the mean ratings for these characteristics were above 4 on the rating scale, and there were no significant differences among the mean ratings given by the combined group for these items. These include cognitive and emotional aspects, as well as family identifications. Except for family, these items were also rated to be relatively more important by those in the high Spiritual Self identity group.