Development and Validation of the Place Spirituality Experience Scale Among Pakistani Muslims
摘要
Based on Counted’s Model of Circle of Place Spirituality, this study developed a psychometrically sound measure of place spirituality, i.e., emotional ties to place and attachment-based spirituality, for the Muslim population. The current research consisted of two phases. In Phase 1, we developed items for the Place Spirituality Experience Scale (PSES) based on findings from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Three components were identified when the PSES was tested by exploratory factor analysis in a convenience sample of 117 Muslim men and 138 Muslim women (N = 255), which revealed a three-factor structure composed of emotional attachment to place, religious attachment to place, and attachment to God in trauma or loss. In Phase 2, a convenience sample of 229 Muslim men and 271 Muslim women (N = 500) was used for confirmatory factor analysis and construct validation of the PSES. Psychometric properties suggest the PSES is a reliable measure that can measure emotionality, spirituality, and attachment and can be used in assessing emotional attachment to a sacred space and attachment to God in Muslim adults.