adolescent sample, for the BMMRS subscales, alpha coefficients were found to be: ORA (0.73), NORA (0.76), RS
(0.92), RC (0.54 /C00.88), SR (0.75), DSE (0.93), F (0.68), RH (0.45), and RCM (0.59) ( Idler et al., 2003 ).
Test/C0Retest
To our knowledge, test-retest reliability is available only for the adolescent sample, in which the BMMRS was
re-administered to 93 adolescents one week later. The intraclass correlation coefficients for the subscales were
ORA (0.90), NORA (0.87), RS (0.95), RC (0.80), SR (0.78), DSE (0.93), F (0.81), RH (0.86), and RCM (0.73) ( Harris
et al., 2008 ).
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
Among the adolescent sample, most BMMRS subscale scores were significantly higher among adolescents
who reported a religious affiliation compared to those reporting their affiliation as none or atheist, after control-
ling for demographic variables ( Harris et al., 2008 ). Furthermore, subscale scores for those who indicated ‘don’t
know’ or ‘confused’ were in between those with a religious affiliation and atheists/none. Likewise, in the com-
munity sample, BMMRS subscale scores were moderately to strongly related to hours spent doing religious activ-
ities at home, hours spent doing religious services outside the home, and strength of religious affiliation (with
correlations as high as 0.61) ( Idler et al., 2003 ).
Divergent/Discriminant
In the adolescent sample, correlations between BMMR S subscales and depressive symptoms ranged from 20.01 to
20.20 for positive subscales and from 0.17 to 0.37 for negative subscales ( Harris et al., 2008 ). In the college sample, cor-
relations of BMMRS subscales with the Brief Marlowe /C0Crowne Social Desirability Scale were weak, ranging from
20.5 to 0.07, with the only exception being a Punishing God factor (see below) ( 20.21) ( Masters et al., 2009 )
Construct/Factor Analytic
In the community sample, a principal components analysis identified two major components, one that con-
tained all of the public and private practices and the other consisting of religious commitment ( Idler et al., 2003 ).
A principal components analysis with oblique rotation in the college sample, however, revealed seven compo-
nents (comforting faith, negative religious interaction, personal spirituality, punishing God, religious community
support, private religious practices, and forgiveness) with loadings ranging from 0.51 to 0.92 ( Masters et al.,
2009).
Location
Fetzer Institute (1999) . Multidimensional measurement of religiousness/spirituality for use in health research:
A report of the Fetzer Institute/National Institute on Aging Working Group. Kalamazoo, MI: Fetzer Institute.
Results and Comments
The BMMRS (or individual subscales) have been used in many studies and correlated with a range of mental
and physical health outcomes. However, some of the BMMRS subscales are contaminated by mental health out-
comes. These include the Forgiveness, Values, and Meaning subscales, as well as some items on the Daily
Spiritual Experiences (DSE) subscale. Furthermore, there is relatively little research on the psychometric charac-
teristics of the BMMRS on adults in the general population.
We do not report all of the items on the BMMRS here. To illustrate the kinds of items included in this measure,
we present questions that ask about belief in life after death (Beliefs), frequency of prayer (Private Religious
Practices), and support received in a religious congregation (Religious Support). Below are examples of items in
each of these scales:
BMMRS SAMPLE ITEMS
Beliefs
1.Do you believe in life after death?
2.I feel that it is important for my children to believe in God.549 MULTIDIMENSIONAL SCALES
V. VICES AND VIRTUES