Research and Theory: Relationships Among Spirituality, Social Support and Childhood Maltreatment in University Students

The authors investigated relationships among spirituality, social support, childhood maltreatment, and symptoms of distress. One hundred and fifty-eight upper-level university students completed questionnaires related to childhood maltreatment, distress symptomatology, spirituality, and social support. Significant associations were found for (a) maltreatment with high symptoms of distress, low existential spiritual well-being, and low social support from family; (b) symptoms of distress with low existential spiritual well-being and low social support from family; and (c) receiving counseling for maltreatment with high symptoms of distress and low support from family.

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