Spirituality in Higher Education: Understanding College Students' Search for Meaning and Purpose

1. Spirituality in Higher Education: A National Study of College Students’ Search for Meaning and Purpose Higher Education Research Institute University of California, Los Angeles Funded By John Templeton Foundation

2. What is Spirituality? • Points to our interiors • Is qualitative and affective • Involves our values, beliefs, meaning, and purpose • Has to do with our connectedness to others and the world around us • Refers to those elements of our lives that are difficult to define or put into words (i.e., intuition, creativity, inspiration, and the sacred)

3. Research Questions • How many students are actively searching and curious about spiritual issues and questions such as the meaning of life and work? • How do students view themselves in terms of spirituality and related qualities such as compassion, forgiveness, optimism, and generosity? • What spiritual/religious practices (e.g., rituals, prayer/meditation, service to others) are students most/least attracted to?

4. Research Questions • How do spiritual/religious practices affect students’ academic and personal development? • What is the connection between traditional religious practices and spiritual development? • What in the undergraduate experience facilitates or hinders students’ spiritual/religious quest?

5. Spirituality in Higher Education Project Phases Pilot Administration to 3,600 Third-Year Students at 46 Institutions (Spring 2003) Interviews with 85 Second-, Third-, and Fourth-Year Students at 6 Institutions (Fall 2003) Full-Scale Administration to 112,000 First-Year Students at 236 Institutions (Fall 2004) HERI Faculty Survey Administration to 65,000 Teaching Faculty at 511 Institutions (Fall 2004-Spring 2005)

6. Beliefs Believe in God 79% My spiritual/religious beliefs have been formed through much personal reflection and searching Agree: 61% To be truly religious, a person must accept all the teachings of his/her faith Agree: 42%

7. Interests and Activities I have at least “some” interest in spirituality 80% Discussed religion/spirituality at least “occasionally”: With friends80% With family76% In class 65% Do you pray? (Yes) 69%

8. Spiritual/Religious Beliefs …% Indicating “Agree Somewhat” or “Agree Strongly”

9. Feel Obligated to Follow My Parents’ Religious Practices

10. Spirituality “Strengthening” Experiences Death of close friend/family member 45% Events of September 11, 2001 42% Romantic relationship 36% Personal injury/illness 34% New ideas encountered in classes 31% War in Iraq 29% Natural disaster 24% Parents’ divorce/separation 18%

11. Current Views about Religious/Spiritual Matters

12. Expectations about My Religious Beliefs

13. Scales

14. Spirituality α=.88 “Agree” that we are all spiritual beings 69% Goal: Seeking out opportunities to help me grow spiritually “Very important” or “Essential”: 47% Goal: Integrating spirituality into my life “Very important” or “Essential”: 41%

15. Religious Engagement α=.87 Engages at least “weekly” in: Religious singing/chanting 30% Reading sacred texts 27% Other reading on religion/spirituality 21% “Frequently”: Attended a religious service 42% Attended class/workshop/retreat on matters related to religion/spirituality 14%

16. Religious Commitment α=.93 My spiritual/religious beliefs provide me with strength, support, and guidance Agree: 69% I find religion to be personally helpful Agree: 68% I gain spiritual strength by trusting in Higher Power Agree: 65%

17. Religious/Social Conservatismα=.72 Abortion should be legal Disagree: 48% People who don’t believe in God will be punished Agree: 37% Conception of God: Father-figure Agree: 35%

18. Religious Struggle α=.75 “Frequently”: Struggled to understand evil, suffering, and death 15% Felt distant from God 14% Questioned religious/spiritual beliefs 14% Disagreed with family about religious matters 13% Felt angry with God 7%

19. Religious Skepticism α=.83 Agree “Strongly” or “Somewhat”: I have never felt a sense of sacredness 31% In the future, science will be able to explain everything 31% The universe arose by chance 26% Whether or not there is a Supreme Being doesn’t matter to me 26%

20. Ecumenical Worldview α=.70 Love is at the root of all the great religions: Agree: 72% Most people can grow spiritually without being religious Agree: 64% I have an interest in different religious traditions To “some” or “great” extent: 61%

21. Spiritual Quest α=.85 “Very Important” or “Essential” Personal Goals: Attaining wisdom 77% Becoming a more loving person 67% Improving the human condition54% Attaining inner harmony 49% Finding answers to the mysteries of life 45% Developing a meaningful philosophy of life 42%

22. Ethic of Caring α=.79 “Very Important” or “Essential” goals: Helping others who are in difficulty 63% Reducing pain and suffering in the world 55% Becoming a community leader 31%

23. Charitable Involvement α=.74 “Frequently”: Performed volunteer work 26% Donated money to charity 14% Participated in community food or clothing drives 11%

24. Equanimity α=.76 Describes Me “To a Great Extent”: Being thankful for all that has happened to me 52% Feeling good about the direction in which my life is headed 49% Seeing each day, good or bad, as a gift40% Feeling a strong connection to all humanity 16%

25. Compassionate Self-Conceptα=.78 Self-rated Kindness Above average: 75% Self-rated Generosity Above average: 67% Self-rated Forgiveness Above average: 56%

26. Intended Major and Spirituality

27. Spirituality by Intended Major (% high scorers) • Highest Music 39 Humanities 30 Fine Arts 25 • Lowest Computer Science 11 Business 13 Architecture 14

28. Religious Commitmentby Intended Major (% high scorers) • Highest Humanities 32 Education 28 Health Professions 28 • Lowest Business 18 Undecided 19 Engineering 19

29. Ecumenical Worldviewby Intended Major (% high scorers) • Highest Humanities 25 Political Science 24 Fine Arts 21 • Lowest Agriculture 3 Computer Science 7 Engineering 8

30. Spiritual Questby Intended Major (% high scorers) • Highest Humanities 38 Fine Arts 36 Music 35 • Lowest Agriculture 8 Computer Science 15 Engineering 17

31. Equanimityby Intended Major (% high scorers) • Highest Music 31 Humanities 30 Political Science 27 • Lowest Computer Science 14 Engineering 18 Business 18

32. Race and Spirituality

33. Spiritualityby Race(% “high scorers”) Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 25 American Indian/Alaska Native 24 African American/Black 24 White/Caucasian 17 Latino 17 Asian American/Asian 14

34. Religious Commitmentby Race(% “high scorers”) African American/Black 47 American Indian/Alaska Native 32 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 29 White/Caucasian 25 Latino 23 Asian American/Asian 22

35. Ecumenical Worldviewby Race(% “high scorers”) Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 24 American Indian/Alaska Native 19 Latino 18 Asian American/Asian 18 African American/Black 16 White/Caucasian 12

36. Spiritual Questby Race(% “high scorers”) African American/Black 36 American Indian/Alaska Native 34 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 34 Latino 28 Asian American/Asian 27 White/Caucasian 23

37. Equanimityby Race(% “high scorers”) African American/Black 33 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 28 American Indian/Alaska Native 27 Latino 23 White/Caucasian 22 Asian American/Asian 19

38. Gender and Spirituality

39. Gender Differences on Factors% High Scorers

40. Gender Differences on Factors% High Scorers

41. Preliminary findings on gender differences in spirituality • We explored gender differences in spirituality using two survey items included in our longitudinal pilot data: • The value students placed on “integrating spirituality into my life” • Students’ self-rated “spirituality” • We identified the variables that predicted changes in these items during college for women compared to men.

42. Preliminary findings on gender differences in spirituality • College experiences that impact men’s and women’s spirituality similarly… • Discussions on spirituality/religion with friends or in class (+) • Charitable Involvement (+)

43. Preliminary findings on gender differences in spirituality • College experiences that impact men’s and women’s spirituality differently… • Hours per week spent studying/doing homework (- for men) • Majoring in one of the science disciplines (- for men)

44. Preliminary findings on gender differences in spirituality • College experiences that impact men’s and women’s spirituality differently… • Having many close friends who are religious (+ for both genders, but stronger for women)

45. Preliminary findings on gender differences in spirituality • The spiritual differences we observe are not necessarily “innate” gendered qualities, but are influenced by contextual factors and student experiences in the college environment.

46. Spirituality, Religion, and Political Orientation

47. Percentages of High Scorers on Each of Eight Scales Who Are Conservative and Liberal

48. Political and Social Issues

49. High vs. Low Religious Engagement Diverging Perspectives On: • Legalized abortion • Casual sex • Same-sex marriage • Legalization of marijuana

50. Political and Social Issues