THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT AND FACTOR-ANALYSIS OF THE SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT INVENTORY

The present article reports the development and factor analyses of a n ew, theoretically-based measure of spiritual maturity viewed from a Ju deo-Christian perspective and designed for clinical use by pastoral co unselors and psychotherapists, as well as researchers. The Spiritual A ssessment Inventory (SAI) is based on a model of spiritual maturity th at integrates relational maturity from an object relations perspective and experiential God-awareness based on New Testament reaching and co ntemplative spirituality principles. A pool of items was developed to measure two hypothesized dimensions of spiritual maturity: awareness o f God and quality of relationship with God. Two factor analytic constr uct validity studies were conducted, Based on the first study, the SAI was revised and expanded. In the second study, five factors were iden tified: Awareness, Instability, Grandiosity, Realistic Acceptance, and Defensiveness/Disappointment. The results of the factor analyses and correlations of the factors with the Bell Object Relations Inventory s upport the underlying theory and validity of the SAI and its potential usefulness for clinical assessment and research.