Figure 3 shows the final structural equation model with spiritual meaning included as a mediating variable. While all links are statistically significant at p ? .01 and all fit indices are acceptable (RMSEA .049 [CI: .047, .050], SRMR .04, NFI .95), not all pathways are positive. The direct connections from spiritual intimacy to well-being and to e negative when spiritual meaning was added as a mediator, demonstrating strong indirect associations of spiritual intimacy with marital intimacy and well-being, acting through spiritual meaning. To determine whether adding spiritual meaning in this central position was an improvement over a model without connections through spiritual meaning we tested the model shown in Figure 3 with the paths from spiritual meaning to marital intimacy and to well-being constrained to zero. The results of this model (not shown) were very similar to the model without spiritual meaning we initially tested in Figure 2 . The direct paths from spiritual intimacy to marital intimacy (0.14, 95% CI [0.11, 0.18], p = .002) and from spiritual intimacy to well-being (0.35, 95% CI [0.31, 0.38], p = .002) were both reasonably strong and positive. Additionally, the model not containing the constraints is a better fit to the data than the constrained model (? 2 (2) = , p < .005). These findings suggest that spiritual meaning is the vehicle through which spiritual intimacy is modeled to facilitate greater marital intimacy and well-being. In other words, it is the spiritual meaning that is a result of one’s relationship with God that is the impetus and model for greater levels of intimacy in one’s marriage and increased individual well-being.
Final causal model (n = 5,720). Spiritual intimacy is the best predictor of one’s marital intimacy and well-being through the lens of spiritual meaning. The strongest positive change is seen for individual well-being in that spiritual intimacy, by improving marital intimacy, also improves well-being. Without spiritual meaning in one’s life, one’s relationship with God is associated with a decrease in marital intimacy and well-being. Standardized regression coefficients from structural model are shown. Age and length of relationship are controlled. Structural model of relationship between latent variables is shown with bold-faced arrows and coefficients. All coefficients are statistically significant at p < .005 using bias-corrected 1,000 sample bootstrap. x 2 (147) = , p < .001, RMSEA = .049 (95% CI = .047, .050), SRMR = .04, NFI .95. Numbers beside latent and manifest variables are squared multiple correlations for all arrows leading into that variable. Numbers on arrows are standardized path coefficients.
Head consequences
While all lead pathways certainly one of latent variables were extreme, those paths from religious closeness in order to really-becoming and also to relationship closeness was one another apparently poor and you will bad. This shows the importance of spiritual meaning to relationship closeness and you may well-are and you can enhances the specter of what is remaining that create a negative matchmaking whenever spiritual closeness is bereft away from spiritual meaning.
Indirect consequences
The newest secondary outcomes was in fact mediated of the religious definition. The brand new lead bad contacts away from spiritual closeness with marital closeness and which have really-being was in fact one another solid and you may self-confident when thought to be indirect outcomes doing work due to spiritual meaning. This means that the brand new solid part out of filipinocupid religious meaning when considering the newest dating one of religious intimacy, relationship closeness, and better-being.
Full effects
As the revealed within the Desk dos , the ramifications of spiritual intimacy to help you spiritual meaning, as well as religious meaning to help you well-are was in fact one another good prior to one other consequences. The brand new paths regarding spiritual and you can marital intimacy so you can better-becoming were slightly weaker additionally the highway out of religious definition so you’re able to relationship intimacy was brand new weakest in the event nevertheless significant. Spiritual definition, therefore, is actually most powerful when considering really-are, plus solid regarding marital closeness.