Predictors of the importance of spiritual and religious beliefs among university students

This exploratory study investigated the importance of spiritual and religious belief among university students (N = 204) and the associated predictor variables. Most respondents agreed that spiritual/religious values were important, and they relied on these values to problem solve and cope. These respondents generally believed that spirituality/religion would allow them to overcome health and psychological challenges and that spiritual/religious beliefs were more important than financial indicators of success. Most did not believe that external signs of religious observance were odd. Most respondents were likely to view religious/spiritual behaviors as an attempt to commune with a supreme being rather than as a nonpersonal relationship with a cosmic power or a search for enlightenment. In a regression model using the predicted variable of The Importance of Religious/Spiritual Beliefs in My Life (Adjusted R² = .799), there were seven significant predictor variables: (a) Frequency of Prayer/Meditation, (b) Overcoming Problems and Maintaining Health with Spirituality/Religion, (c) Important Aspects of Living, (d) Accommodating Religious/Spiritual Values into One's Life, (e) Communing with a Supreme Being, (f) Attendance at Religious/ Spiritual Services, and (g) External Signs of Religious Observance. The predictor variable of Religion and Spirituality in the Age of Science (p = .054) was retained in the final model because of its proximity to significance and to minimize the risk of committing a type II error. Implications of these findings are discussed for human service educators.