The Role of Spirituality and Well-Being for First-Generation Low-Income College Students

• In Event: Spirituality in Education

Abstract

Mental health comprise crises on college campuses, especially for first-generation and low-income students. Despite the common history and heritage of spirituality and religious foundations of America’s colleges and universities, current norms and preferences have rendered candid discussions of spirituality to be, at best, passé, and, at worst, regressive. Data were collected through a survey, rendering 135 participants. Quantitative analysis found that there was no statistical difference between first-generation or low-income students and their peers in spirituality or wellbeing, that spirituality that is or once was salient to the student is correlated with and predicts psychological wellbeing, These data provide insight into the nature of the relationship between spirituality and wellbeing, among college students and present implications for practitioners and researchers.

Authors

• Chris T Beggs, Kansas State University

• Barbara Nell Martin, University of Central Missouri