Validity of the Brazilian version of the Duke Religious Index (DUREL)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is a shortage of validated instruments for the study of religiousness in Brazilian samples. A recent study in a community sample pointed to an adequate validity for the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Duke Religiosity Index (P-DUREL). Nevertheless, no study to date has investigated the psychometric properties of the P-DUREL in psychiatric and/or university student samples. OBJECTIVE: To determine the internal consistency, the test-retest reliability and the convergent-discriminant validity of the P-DUREL in two distinct samples. METHODS: Sample 1: university students (n = 323). Sample 2: psychiatric patients (n = 102). The P-DUREL and the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Instrument-Spirituality, Religion and Personal Beliefs module (WHOQOL-SRPB); psychological distress symptoms were measured by means the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) in sample 1, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in sample 2. RESULTS: The P-DUREL had adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.80) and test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient > 0.90) in both samples. Moderate correlations (0.58 < r < 0.71) between the P-DUREL subscales were observed. Furthermore, significant correlations between the P-DUREL scores with the general WHOQOL-SRPB scores as well as with psychological distress symptoms measures were observed in both samples. DISCUSSION: The present study opens perspective for the use of P-DUREL for the investigation of religiousness dimensions in Brazilian samples with diverse socio-demographic backgrounds.