Modelling Spirituality, Wellness and Quality of Life: A Study in Redang and Perhentian Islands

This paper reports findings of a study that was conducted to effect two major objectives. Firstly, to ascertain the criteria or factors that measure quality of life (QOL) from the perspectives of Perhentian and Redang island communities. Secondly, to test a hypothesised proposed model that illustrates the relationships between spirituality, wellness and QOL. Factor analysis was performed to determine the underlying factors of spirituality, wellness and QOL before proceeding to applying structural equation modelling (SEM), using AMOS 7 to the data set. The findings of the study suggest that the hypothesised model fits the sample data adequately. In addition, the findings of the study supported two hypotheses proposed in the study. Firstly, there is a direct relationship between spirituality and Wellness and, secondly, there is a direct relationship between wellness and QOL. However, the study failed to support the third hypothesis that asserts there is a direct relationship between spirituality and QOL. The implications of the study suggest that community's QOL can be improved by enhancing the community's different aspect of wellness which is turn is influenced by its spirituality level. In addition, factors termed as employment and family bond are crucial to improve QOL.