Psychology Ph.D. Dissertations
Self-Determined Exit: How Self Determination Theory Can Explain Wellness Trajectories of Religious Disaffiliates
Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Psychology/Clinical
First Advisor
Joshua Grubbs (Committee Chair)
Second Advisor
Brent Archer (Other)
Third Advisor
Samuel McAbee (Committee Member)
Fourth Advisor
William O'Brien (Committee Member)
Abstract
The population of “nones,” those who do not affiliate with a religion, is continually growing in the United States. Many of those who identify as nones have disaffiliated from religious traditions. Research on religious exit has used theories that are limited in their generalizability and their explanatory power. This work proposed that Self Determination Theory may be especially suited as a comprehensive framework for religious disaffiliation. Self Determination Theory’s focus on motivational processes and the fulfillment and thwarting of basic psychological needs may help explain processes within religious disaffiliation, and may help explain why religious disaffiliation may be associated with decreased wellbeing for some and improved wellbeing for others. This work tested Self Determination Theory as a comprehensive theory for religious disaffiliation by examining the associations between religious disaffiliates’ motivational regulation types, basic psychological need satisfaction or frustration, and wellbeing. Main findings of the study included that disaffiliates overwhelmingly reported that their basic psychological needs were more satisfied and that they were more intrinsically motivated currently than in their past religious lives. Further, competence satisfaction and frustration and former group insularity demonstrated to be robust predictors of wellbeing outcomes. Overall, results of the study offered mixed findings, and although the findings somewhat supported the main claims of Self Determination Theory, more research is necessary with validated measures to ascertain whether Self Determination Theory could serve as a comprehensive theoretical basis for understanding the psychology of religious disaffiliation.
Recommended Citation
Engelman, Joel, "Self-Determined Exit: How Self Determination Theory Can Explain Wellness Trajectories of Religious Disaffiliates" (2023). Psychology Ph.D. Dissertations. 260.
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/psychology_diss/260