Spiritual discussions could improve student counseling

University Park, Pa. -- Distress related to religious and spiritual problems is a rather common condition among college students, according to a study conducted by two Penn State College of Education researchers that was recently published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology. Furthermore, distress related to religious or spiritual concerns is associated with a specific cluster of other psychological issues. Thus, on-campus counseling sessions might be more helpful if religious and spiritual issues are addressed by counselors.

Chad V. Johnson, doctoral candidate in counseling psychology, and Jeffrey A. Hayes, associate professor of education, report these findings in an article titled "Troubled Spirits: Prevalence and Predictors of Religious and Spiritual Concerns among University Students and Counseling Center Clients" that appeared in the October 2003 issue of the journal.

The authors found that, in a sample of more than 5,000 university students from 39 institutions, about one-fourth of the participants had experienced considerable distress that resulted from religious and spiritual problems. For another 6 percent, the distress was considered to be extreme. Among the students who sought help from campus counseling centers, nearly one-third had experienced at least some distress concerning religious or spiritual problems. About one-fifth of the help-seekers had at least moderate distress related to these concerns.

“The data serve as a reminder that, even at secular colleges and universities, a substantial portion of students wrestle with spiritual and religious concerns,” according to Hayes. “Unfortunately the archival data we analyzed did not indicate the precise nature of these religious or spiritual issues, although other research suggests that these may include loss of one's faith, near-death or mystical experiences, and discerning one’s vocation.”

There were certain characteristics that distinguished students who experienced distress related to religious and spiritual problems from those students who didn't. These characteristics include confusion about the students’ beliefs and values, loss of a relationship, sexual assault, homesickness, and suicidal thoughts and feelings.

Interestingly, those students with religious or spiritual concerns who were distressed by sexual assault, problem pregnancy, and homesickness were among the least likely to seek help from university counseling centers.

According to Hayes, the long-standing schism between psychology and religion may contribute to students’ reticence about seeking counseling when religious and spiritual concerns are bound up in other issues that students are dealing with, such as an unwanted pregnancy. “Not only is such an issue intensely private and emotional, but for many students there are additional existential and moral concerns involved,” he said.

The authors recommend that student affairs consultants engage in outreach efforts to address the needs of students struggling with these issues. The outreach programs might consider including a religious or spiritual component.

The authors concluded that, "When students seek help from university counseling centers for issues related to sexual concerns, problematic relationships with peers, thoughts of being punished for one's sins, and confusion about their beliefs and values, counseling center staff should be sensitive to the possibility that these clients also have concerns of a spiritual or religious nature. Recognizing that students may be hesitant to openly convey their spiritual and religious issues, therapists might take the lead in initiating inquiry in this area."