Religious Struggle Among College Students: A Comparative Analysis by Institutional Type

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Abstract

During the undergraduate years, students experience a variety of transitions as they seek to find their own purpose and identity. Discovering one’s own spirituality, religiosity, and worldview are part of the developmental process. As students transition into young adulthood and establish their own sense of self, they often experience religious struggle as they discover differences between their previously assumed beliefs from family, friends, and other significant influences and their new beliefs. Two previous studies indicated the level of religious struggle varies by the type institution attended. However, patterns and predictors of religious struggle by type of institution attended have not been thoroughly explored. This study identifies the patterns and predictors of religious struggle by type of institution attended.

Authors

• Jenny Carter, Geneva College

• Young K. Kim, Azusa Pacific University

• David Edens, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona