| Recent research that seeks to understand psychology within a Christian framework has focused on the axis of self-other relations. As such, relational approaches to psychology and spirituality meet to offer a rich explanatory psycho-spiritual paradigm. The present study utilized such a paradigm by using structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the fit of archival data to a relational spirituality model. Specifically, this study explored the effect transformational change had on altruism for participants who reported various negative life experiences. In addition to exploring the effects of transformational change on altruism, this study also sought to gain an increased understanding of the mediating effects of affective motives and empathy on the relationship between transformational change and altruism. Overall, major findings of the current research did emerge to support the main hypothesis. Following the relational model of spiritual transformation, the findings of the current study did not support the direct effects of transformational change and affective motives on altruism. However, as hypothesized using the revised model the transformational change latent variable significantly predicted the affective motives latent variable. Also as hypothesized, the affective motives latent variable significantly predicted the empathy latent variable. Finally, as hypothesized, the empathy latent variable significantly predicted the altruism latent variable. |
