1. How Religion Affects Decision Making in College Students How Religion Affects Decision Making in College Students RESEARCH PROBLEM: There is a lack of research relating to college students and religion and/or spirituality (R/S), particularly in the realm of healthy lifestyles (Nagal & Sgoustas-Emch, 2007) and decision making (Moran, 2003). RESEARCH QUESTION: How do R/S views affect college student’s decision making? HYPOTHESIS: #1: A positive correlation would be found between R/S views and a healthy lifestyle. #2: A positive correlation would be found between R/S views and decision making. PURPOSE: #1: Examine the influence R/S has on college students’ decision making with a sample of college students at a small Midwestern University. #2: Develop a reliable survey instrument to measure the impact R/S have on college students’ decision making. #3 Use the results from this study to increase the knowledge of student’s beliefs to university and human services professionals. LITERATURE REVIEW: Rojas (2010) cited a study by Astin (2010) found that many students struggle with R/S beliefs in college and tend to turn to spiritual practices. Schubmehl, Cubbellotti, and Van Ornum (2009) found frequent church attendance & campus ministry involvement did not result in a higher GPA. Bryant and Astin (2008) found that religious preferences, being female, attending a religious college, majoring in psychology, and experiences in college can increase college student’s struggles with R/S. Moran, Roberts, Tobin, and Harvey (2008) explored how R/S beliefs of students in residence halls at public universities in the United States should be expressed equally. Brown, Salsman, Brechting, and Carlson (2007) found that R/S have different links with alcohol use based on social support. Nagal and Sgoutash-Emch (2007) found a positive correlation between a healthy lifestyle and high spiritual beliefs. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: Family Ecology Theory (Paloutzian & Park, 2005) Includes four environments that the family interacts with; the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem. As applied to this study the theory predicts college student’s decision-making would be influenced by the various environments the student has been exposed. DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES: ( GEN) Gender, (AGE) Age, (YIS) Year in School, (RSB) R/S beliefs. DEPENDENT VARIABLES: (PDC) R/S beliefs helped make positive decisions while attending college (IDN) Religion/(SIM) Spirituality is an important part of my life (ACD) I make academic career decisions by turning to R/S practices (INV) R/S community involvement assist in my decision making (SEM) My R/S beliefs affect my self-worth positively (REL) I consider a prospective romantic partner’s R/S beliefs when deciding to commit (DRK) Because of my R/S beliefs, I refrain from drinking ( HBV) I get sick is because of R/S connection instead of a healthy lifestyle or chance (DIR) & (DIS) I feel discriminated against because of my R/S beliefs CONCLUSION: R/S beliefs are an important part of lives for many people at all stages of life, including college students. This study supported this idea by students stating that they view their R/S beliefs as a powerful tool in the way they make decisions. At the collegiate level it is important to embrace, educate, and accept these beliefs, no matter how different the beliefs may be from other students. It is important for university staff to understand the importance of these beliefs to students, and to allow the students beliefs to help guide the decisions they may have to make in college. IMPLICATIONS: University use by residential halls, ethics courses, general/staff knowledge. Community support by R/S leaders, organization leaders, counselors. Support students by advising on topics such as academic choices and relationships and gain knowledge of students needs. Future research: Random, large national sample, 1-7 Likert scale, additional statements, different study designs: longitudinal, compare groups/demographics, qualitative/interviews. RESULTS: There is a positive correlation between R/S and health lifestyles: The correlations between (SIM)/(IDN) and (ACD) (INV) (SEM)((REL) at p<0.01 level supported this hypothesis. There is a positive correlation between R/S and positive decision making: the correlation between (SIM)/(IDN) and (PDC) at p<0.01 level supported this hypothesis. Strong support was found for those variables at **=p<.01; refer to tables. Reliability analysis: Chronbach’s Alpha: 0.864. Frequencies Mean Comparisons Correlations METHOD: Participant: 54 male/female college students at a university in northwestern Wisconsin. Research Design: Non-random pilot study, cross sectional, purposive sampling design. Data collection Instrument: IRB approved, informed by literature & theory, implied consent. Self administered surveys with four demographic variables, 11 closed ended questions based on a 1-5 Lickert scale, and four qualitative questions. Procedure: Administered questionnaires to male and female college students in general education courses. Explained implied consent and confidentiality. Data Analysis Plan: Cleaned & coded surveys, analyzed data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) frequencies, mean comparisons, correlations, and a reliability analysis: Cronbach’s Alpha. University of Wisconsin – Stout Lauren Davison Amber Mike Advisor: Dr. Susan Wolfgram