An Examination and Validation of a Short Form of the Spiritual Abuse Questionnaire

The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spiritual Abuse Questionnaire (SAQ). Additionally, the present study sought to conduct analyses to assess the measurement invariance of the SAQ and potential differences of experience of spiritual abuse based on sexual orientation, gender, and racial/ethnic identity. Utilizing online self-report survey results from religious university students located in the United States, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, measurement invariance analyses, t tests, analysis of variance, and intraclass correlations were performed to examine the factor structure, loadings, validity, and reliability (test-retest, internal consistency) of the SAQ. Pearson's correlations were also performed to assess relationships between SAQ factors, religiosity, anxiety, and depression. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a four-item, one-factor version of the SAQ demonstrated good fit (N = 1,744), had acceptable test-retest reliability (N = 36, r = 0.78-0.90), and met strict measurement invariance for gender. Correlations revealed weak but significant positive relationships between all three SAQ factors, religiosity, anxiety, and depression. Significant differences were found in reported experience of spiritual abuse between lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning and heterosexual participants. Results support the use of a one-factor, four-item version of the SAQ. This measure may be useful for future research, clinical practice, and screening for spiritual abuse. Study findings were also consistent with prior literature indicating that lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning identity is associated with higher levels of self-reported experiences of religious harm compared to heterosexual identity.