Table 5.
Factor Loadings for Combined Items from the Ironson-Woods Spirituality/Religiousness Index, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and the Geriatric Depression Scale
| Factor 1 | Factor 2 | Factor 3 | Factor 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRONSON-WOODS ITEMS | ||||
| My beliefs give me a sense of peace | 0.91 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs help me to know everything will be fine |
0.89 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs give meaning to my life | 0.87 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs help me to be relaxed | 0.86 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs help me to feel protected | 0.82 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs help me feel I am not alone | 0.86 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs help me feel I have a relationship or a connection with a higher form of being |
0.86 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs help me be less afraid of death | 0.87 | -- | -- | -- |
| I believe my soul will live on in some form after my body dies |
0.82 | -- | -- | -- |
| I believe God created all things in the universe |
0.77 | -- | -- | 0.45 |
| God will not turn his back on me no matter what I do |
0.83 | -- | -- | -- |
| When I am ill, God gives me courage to cope with my illness |
0.94 | -- | -- | -- |
| When I am ill, God will answer my prayers for a recovery |
0.89 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs are very influential in my recovery when I am ill |
0.92 | -- | -- | -- |
| When I am ill my faith gives me optimism that I will recover |
0.91 | -- | -- | -- |
| I attend religious services | 0.78 | -- | -- | -- |
| I participate in religious rituals | 0.76 | -- | -- | -- |
| I pray or meditate to get in touch with God | 0.79 | -- | -- | -- |
| I discuss my beliefs with others who share my beliefs |
0.83 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs give me a set of rules I must obey | 0.80 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs teach me to help other people who are in need |
0.81 | -- | -- | -- |
| My beliefs help me feel compassion/love/respect for others |
0.74 | -- | -- | -- |
| I have a responsibility to help others | 0.76 | -- | -- | −0.47 |
| My beliefs increase my acceptance and tolerance of others |
0.73 | -- | -- | −0.47 |
| I feel I am connected to all humanity | 0.69 | -- | -- | −0.52 |
| FACIT-SP ITEMS | ||||
| I feel peaceful | -- | 0.60 | -- | -- |
| I have a reason for living | -- | 0.69 | -- | -- |
| My life has been productive | -- | 0.60 | -- | -- |
| I have trouble feeling peace of mind | -- | -- | -- | −0.35 |
| I feel a sense of purpose in my life | -- | 0.78 | -- | -- |
| I am able to reach down deep into myself for comfort |
-- | 0.58 | -- | -- |
| I feel a sense of harmony within myself | -- | 0.72 | -- | -- |
| My life lacks meaning or purpose | -- | −0.69 | -- | -- |
| I find comfort in my faith or spiritual beliefs | 0.64 | 0.42 | -- | -- |
| I find strength in my faith or spiritual beliefs | 0.73 | -- | -- | -- |
| My illness has strengthened my faith or spiritual beliefs |
0.67 | -- | -- | -- |
| I know whatever happens with my illness, things will be okay |
0.47 | 0.58 | -- | -- |
| GDS-SF | ||||
| Are you basically satisfied with your life? | -- | 0.43 | -- | -- |
| Have you dropped many of your activities and interests? |
-- | −0.43 | -- | -- |
| Do you feel happy most of the time? | -- | 0.71 | -- | -- |
| Do you prefer to stay at home rather than | -- | -- | -- | 0.31 |
| going out and doing new things? | ||||
| Do you feel that life is empty? | -- | -- | 0.53 | -- |
| Do you often get bored? | -- | −0.46 | 0.56 | -- |
| Are you in good spirits most of the time? | -- | -- | −0.45 | -- |
| Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you? |
-- | -- | 0.75 | -- |
| Do you feel helpless? | -- | -- | 0.64 | -- |
| Do you feel that you have more problems with memory than most? |
-- | -- | 0.54 | -- |
| Do you think it is wonderful to be alive? | -- | -- | -- | 0.67 |
| Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now? |
-- | -- | 0.57 | -- |
| Do you feel full of energy? | -- | -- | −0.48 | -- |
| Do you feel that your situation is hopeless? | -- | -- | 0.63 | -- |
| Do you think that most people are better off than you are? |
-- | -- | 0.44 | -- |
| PERCENT OF TOTAL VARIANCE | 37.3% | 11.9% | 7.5% | 6.3% |
| COEFFICIENT ALPHA | 0.98 | 0.87 | 0.82 | 0.24 |
FACIT-Sp = Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-being Scale; GDS-SF = Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form.
Primary factor loadings are highlighted in bold and any additional loadings above 0.40 are displayed.