Description

The Religious Spiritual History Scale [RSHS-25] is a 25-item self-report instrument designed to assess an individual’s religious and spiritual history across the lifespan.

Purpose

The scale examines key aspects such as:

  • religious upbringing and family background,
  • significant religious or spiritual experiences,
  • changes in beliefs and practices over time,
  • the role of religion or spirituality in personal development and coping with difficulties.

Scoring

The RSHS-25 consists of 25 items addressing different dimensions of religious and spiritual history. Scoring follows the response format of the specific version used and allows researchers to describe the degree and nature of religious or spiritual involvement.

Applications

The scale can be used in psychological, social, and religion-related research to examine associations between religious history, spirituality, mental health, coping strategies, and personal development.

Reference

Hays, J. C., Meador, K. G., Branch, P. S., & George, L. K. (2001). The Spiritual History Scale in four dimensions (SHS-4): Validity and reliability. The Gerontologist, 41(2), 239–249.