Page 79 - JCBP-3-2

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Coping with a crisis

(strongly agree). Smith et al. reported favorable internal variable that better approximated a normal distribution.
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consistency reliability with estimates ranging from 0.80 to The alpha levels (P-values) to limit type I errors were set
91. The Cronbach’s alpha for the BRS for this study was at 0.05 for all analyses.
α = 0.89.
3. Results
2.3.6. Social media hours and social media friends
3.1. Descriptive statistics
Additional questions asked participants to indicate how
much time on average per day in the previous week they The demographic variables were analyzed and indicated
spent actively using social media (total social media a mostly female, young, and White sample. The gender
hours) and how many total social media friends they had breakdown in the sample was mostly self-identified female
currently (total social media friends). These continuous (74%); 21% identifying as male; 3.5% identifying as non-
variables were reported in whole numbers. binary, gender fluid, transsexual; and <1% preferring
no response. Over the full sample, the average age was
2.4. Statistical methods 28.63 years (±12.83 years). The sample primarily identified
as White, non-Hispanic (93%), followed by Hispanic
Data for this study were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (2%), Multiracial, non-Hispanic (1.8%), Asian (0.7%),
(Version 28, IBM Corp.). Two recent reviews of sample and Black, non-Hispanic or African American (0.4%).
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size estimates for the use of the Spearman correlation and About 1.8% preferred not to respond. Table 1 presents the
use of the Mann–Whitney U-test were used as guides means, standard deviations, ranges, and Cronbach’s alpha
to estimate an adequate minimum sample size for the
study. 26,27 Related to the Spearman correlation, Bujang reliability estimates.
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estimated a sample size of 75 when using 0.7 as a target 3.2. Correlational analyses
correlation value and anticipating a 95% confidence level
of a width of 0.3. The simulations of various methods of Correlation patterns (Table 2) across all participants for
sample size estimation by Zhu indicated that for a target spiritual coping indicated statistically significant weak to
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effect size of 0.5 with power of 95% indicated a range of moderate negative correlations between spiritual coping
109 up to 114 participants. With a sample of 285 in the and anxiety (r = −0.12, P ≤ 0.01), depression (r = −0.28,
present study, there is an adequate sample size based on P ≤ 0.05), and stress scores (r = −0.18, P ≤ 0.01), social
these guidelines. media intensity (r = −0.13, P ≤ 0.05), and social media
hours (r = −0.16, P ≤ 0.05), indicating more use of
Demographic variables of gender and campus status spiritual coping was associated with less symptomology
(student or faculty/staff) as qualitative variables were of depression, anxiety, and stress and social media use. A
reported using percentages based on frequency counts. weak but positive correlation was found between spiritual
The age variable was reported using mean and standard
deviation. The main measures used in the study for Table 1. Means, standard deviations, ranges, minimum,
spiritual coping, resilience, social media intensity, total maximum, and reliability values for measures
social media hours, total social media friends, and mental
health (depression, anxiety, and stress) as quantitative Variable Items M SD Range Min. Max. α
variables were summarized using means, standard Spiritual Coping 20 30.69 11.20 53.00 7.00 60.00 0.89
deviation, and range. Cronbach’s alpha was also calculated Scale
for each of these primary measures except for total social Brief resilience scale 6 3.03 0.90 4.00 1.00 5.00 0.89
media hours and total social media friends as they were Social Media 6 19.98 6.01 24.00 6.00 30.00 0.87
single items. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test for normality Intensity Scale
was used and found violations of normality for the primary DASS-21 Anxiety 7 10.51 8.80 38.00 0.00 38.00 0.84
study variables. This led to the use of Spearman Rho to DASS-21 7 13.44 10.97 42.00 0.00 42.00 0.93
assess correlations among spiritual coping strategies, social Depression
media use, stress, depression, anxiety, and resilience for DASS-21 Stress 7 17.00 9.43 42.00 0.00 42.00 0.86
the overall sample and analyzed separately for faculty/ Total social media 1 2.97 2.33 19.07 0.00 19.07 -
staff alone and students alone. The Mann–Whitney U-test hours
was used to assess differences on ranks on the primary Total social media 1 2.47 0.73 3.70 0.00 3.70 -
study variables between students and faculty/staff and friends a
also to explore possible gender differences. In addition, Note: Logarithmic transformed version of original variable.
a
the variable of total social media friends was transformed Abbreviations: DASS-21: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales;
using a base 10 logarithmic transformation to create a M: Mean; SD: Standard deviation.

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 73 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.4563