Dedication to the Sacred (DS) Scale

Abstract

The Dedication to the Sacred (DS) Scale is a brief, five-item self-report instrument designed to measure the strength and quality of an individual’s commitment to their relationship with a transcendent entity, often referred to as the Sacred. Developed in 2009 by Davis and colleagues, this scale is unique in that it adapts core principles of relationship science—specifically, measures of dedication and commitment traditionally applied to interpersonal relationships like marriage—and applies them to the spiritual domain. The scale assesses the degree to which an individual prioritizes their connection with the Sacred, plans for the future of this relationship, and is willing to make sacrifices to maintain its strength. It serves as a key tool for researchers interested in studying relational spirituality and the psychological impact of spiritual commitment.

Keywords

Dedication, Sacred, Spirituality, Relational Spirituality, Commitment, Psychological Scale, Measurement, Religious Commitment.

Authors

Davis, Don E., Worthington Jr., Everett L., Hook, Joshua N., Van Tongeren, Daryl R.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Dedication to the Sacred (DS) Scale is to provide a reliable and valid measure of dedication within the context of a spiritual or religious relationship. The researchers sought to operationalize spiritual commitment using established metrics from relationship psychology, arguing that the psychological mechanisms of dedication found in marital relationships could be generalized to an individual’s perceived relationship with God or the Sacred. This allows for a deeper understanding of how commitment functions as a psychological resource in the spiritual lives of individuals, particularly in coping and overall well-being. The scale aims to capture the intentional investment and prioritization of this unique relationship.

Construct

The DS Scale measures the psychological construct of Dedication to the Sacred. This construct is defined by the three core components adapted from marital dedication models: priority, continuity, and sacrifice. Priority refers to the belief that the relationship with the Sacred is paramount and more important than other life aspects. Continuity reflects the long-term commitment and future planning associated with maintaining the strength of this relationship, irrespective of external challenges. Sacrifice involves the willingness to give up personal desires or resources for the benefit of the relationship with the Sacred. Together, these elements form a comprehensive measure of committed relational spirituality.

Validity

In establishing the psychometric properties of the DS Scale, the authors conducted rigorous testing to ensure its validity. Content validity was addressed by basing the items directly on established, empirically supported models of marital dedication, ensuring the scale items accurately reflect the theoretical components (priority, continuity, sacrifice) applied to a spiritual context. Construct validity was demonstrated through correlations with established measures of related spiritual and psychological constructs. For example, higher scores on the DS Scale are expected to correlate positively with measures of religious coping, spiritual maturity, and general life satisfaction, while showing appropriate discriminant validity from constructs such as religious fundamentalism or extrinsic religiosity. The original publication provides specific statistical evidence supporting the scale’s ability to measure the intended construct.

Reliability

The reliability of the Dedication to the Sacred Scale has been primarily assessed through measures of internal consistency. Given the scale’s brevity (five items), achieving high internal consistency is crucial. The original research by Davis et al. (2009) reported strong internal consistency, typically measured using Cronbach’s alpha, indicating that all five items consistently measure the same underlying construct. This high reliability suggests that the scale provides a stable and consistent measure of an individual’s dedication to the Sacred, making it suitable for use in quantitative research and longitudinal studies focused on spiritual development and relational outcomes.

Factor Analysis

Factor analysis was employed during the scale development process to confirm the underlying structure of the DS Scale. The results of the factor analysis generally support a unidimensional structure, confirming that the five items load strongly onto a single factor—Dedication to the Sacred. This outcome reinforces the scale’s theoretical foundation, demonstrating that the components of priority, continuity, and sacrifice, when applied to a spiritual relationship, cohere as a single, measurable psychological construct. The robust factor structure simplifies scoring and interpretation, yielding a single, overall dedication score for research purposes.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological inventory designed for psychological testing in the field of psychology of religion and spirituality.

Format: Five items administered using a 7-point Likert scale.

Language Available: English (Original version).

Population Group: Individuals who self-identify as having a meaningful relationship or connection with a Sacred entity (e.g., God, Higher Power, transcendent force).

Age Group: Generally used with adult populations (18+).

Population Details: The scale is utilized across diverse religious and spiritual affiliations, focusing on the relational commitment rather than specific theological beliefs.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement using the 7-point scale, ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree).

Keywords

Spiritual commitment, Dedication, Self-report measure, Psychology of religion, Spiritual assessment, Marital adaptation, Psychometric properties, Unidimensional scale.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Dedication to the Sacred (DS) Scale was developed and published in 2009. For academic and non-commercial research use, the scale is typically available upon request or citation of the original article. Researchers should consult the primary author, Don E. Davis, or the journal publisher for formal permission regarding large-scale or commercial application. No specific fee structure is publicly documented for standard academic use.

Reference’s

• Davis, Don E., Worthington Jr., Everett L., Hook, Joshua N., Van Tongeren, Daryl R. (2009). The Dedication to the Sacred (DS) Scale: Adapting a Marriage Measure to Study Relational spirituality. Journal of psychology and theology; 37:265-275.
• The instrument and original publication details can be reviewed online here: http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/47573959/dedication-sacred-ds-scale-adapting-marriage-measure-study-relational-spirituality

Items of the Dedication to the Sacred (DS) Scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. My relationship with the Sacred is more important to me than almost anything else in my life.
2. I want my relationship with the Sacred to stay strong no matter what rough times I may encounter.
3. I like to think of the Sacred and me more in terms of “us” and “we” than “me” and “him/ her/it.”
4. My relationship with the Sacred is clearly part of my future life plans.
5. It makes me feel good to sacrifice for the Sacred.

Scoring: 1= “Stongly Disagree” to 7= “Strongly Agree”