Date

6-26-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Laura B. Beiler

Keywords

hope, grief, loss, religion, religiosity, suffering, meaning-making, meaning in life, meaning, purpose

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Relationship loss from death or living loss significantly impacts almost every human being at some point in life. Extensive research has examined the constructs of hope, religiosity, meaning in life, and grieving. Researchers have identified the contributions of these constructs in helping individuals understand and make sense of relational loss. However, limited, if any, literature exists on the relationships between all the constructs, particularly with an interdisciplinary view of hope. This present study examined these relationships and the moderating effect of hope and religiosity in adults who have experienced significant relationship loss within the past six years. Data was collected from seventy-two U.S. residents, aged 18 and older, from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. All participants experienced a significant relational loss in the past six years that was classified as death, divorce or marital separation, loss of family connections, the end of a significant relationship, or dementia. Eligible participants completed an online survey consisting of demographic questions and the Purpose in Life Test, the Combined Short Versions of Hope Scale, and the Duke University Religion Index. Quantitative analysis used Pearson’s Correlations, regression, and Hayes’s PROCESS moderation to analyze the data. Correlational and regression analysis suggests significant, positive relationships between hope, religiosity, and meaning in life. Combined hope and religious hope were moderators between intrinsic religiosity and meaning in life. The study findings provide implications for increasing meaning in life and helping grieving individuals flourish after loss.

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