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Re-evaluation of the relationship between paranormal belief and perceived stress using statistical modelling.

Drinkwater, KG, Denovan, A and Dagnall, N (2024) Re-evaluation of the relationship between paranormal belief and perceived stress using statistical modelling. PloS one, 19 (11).

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Abstract

Recent research indicates that paranormal belief, in the absence of allied cognitive-perceptual and psychopathology-related factors, is not associated with negative wellbeing outcomes. However, investigators have historically reported relationships between specific facets of belief (e.g., superstition) and stress vulnerability. These typically derive from the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (RPBS), which has questionable psychometric integrity. The main issue being that several RPBS items perform poorly. Noting this, the present paper re-examined the relationship between paranormal belief and stress using the Rasch purified version of the RPBS. This comprises two dimensions, called Traditional Paranormal Belief (TPB) and New Age Philosophy (NAP). These are operationalised in terms of function. Specifically, whether belief provides a sense of control at the social (TPB) or individual level (NAP). Accordingly, this study examined whether TPB and NAP were differentially predictive of levels of perceived stress. In this context, stress served as an indicator of well-being. A sample of 3084 participants (Mage = 50.31, SD = 15.20, range 18-91) completed the RPBS alongside the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling revealed that TPB was significantly predictive of higher Distress, and lower Coping. NAP was neither predictive of Distress nor Coping. These findings support the notion that TPB is attendant with external control, particularly the notion that unknown supernatural forces/powers influence existence.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Humans; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Models, Statistical; Stress, Psychological; Parapsychology; Psychometrics; Culture; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Middle Aged; Female; Male; Young Adult; Surveys and Questionnaires; Humans; Adult; Female; Male; Stress, Psychological; Middle Aged; Aged; Young Adult; Adolescent; Psychometrics; Parapsychology; Aged, 80 and over; Models, Statistical; Surveys and Questionnaires; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Culture; Behavioral and Social Science; Clinical Research; Mind and Body; Mental Health; Humans; Adult; Female; Male; Stress, Psychological; Middle Aged; Aged; Young Adult; Adolescent; Psychometrics; Parapsychology; Aged, 80 and over; Models, Statistical; Surveys and Questionnaires; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Culture; General Science & Technology
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
SWORD Depositor: A Symplectic
Date Deposited: 28 Nov 2024 18:31
Last Modified: 28 Nov 2024 18:45
DOI or ID number: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312511
Editors: Mamcarz, PJ
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/24920
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