Abstract

        To what extent do spiritual values help you to find meaning in your life? The responses to this question by 37,000 Canadians aged 15 and over in 2002 provide the basic data for this study. Other questions in the survey allow the question of life meaning to be related to many dimensions of the health of the body, mind and spirit, and other aspects of the quality of life.

        In answer to the above question, 38% of Canadians report that spiritual values do not help to find life meaning, 7% report "a little", 23% "some", and 33% "a lot". Women are much more spiritual than men: 39% report "a lot" compared with 26% of men, 40% of mothers, and 28% of fathers.

        The percentage of women saying that spiritual values help a lot is 50% higher than that for men, and as high as 88% higher in Nova Scotia and 86% higher in New Brunswick. The female rates are higher than their male counterparts by 109% among those separated, 75%, those living common-law, and 38% (below the national ratio) among the married.

        Analyses of 35 behaviours are provided for the total population, women, men, parents, parents in two parent families, and lone parents. The associations are as expected for the behaviours considered most damaging to the individual.

        For example, the higher the spirituality, other factors held constant, the less smoking or drinking when stressed; the more exercising when stressed, feelings of peace, emotional balance, and feelings of being useful and loved; the more close friends, satisfaction with life, and sense of belonging to the community; the more frequent the worship, prayer to relieve stress, and the more religious one feels; the less marijuana smoked, the fewer the times drunk, the higher the age when drinking alcohol began, the less frequent the gambling, and the less the money gambled in the past year.

        The more spiritual are more likely to have more close friends, friends who understand their problems, who help them when they are sick, and show love and affection. Spirituality may be a positive outlet and source of meaning for the unemployed or those on social assistance. Spirituality is less likely among the employed and owners of dwellings, but more likely among those not in the labour force. Spirituality is higher, the more children there are under 12, so it may be a possible source of support and meaning.

        Appendix 1 presents information on the survey and actual questions posed. Appendix 2 contains the detailed tables for Canadians, women, men, and parents - 37 pages each.