Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Religious Education, PhD

First Advisor

Elvin Gabriel

Second Advisor

Jerome Thayer

Third Advisor

Jasmine Fraser

Abstract

Problem

Even though the study of spirituality has been a recurrent theme in academia, in Brazil there has been little emphasis on the analysis of spiritual well-being in the context of university students. Few studies have examined the correlation of spiritual well-being with perceived social support or religious attitudes among university students, and most of these have been in the fields of health care or health recovery. Some research has indicated that religious attitudes may be partially disconnected from improvements in the level of spirituality. -- This study aimed to verify whether this disconnection is real or relevant, and assumed that religious attitudes in the university church, the office of chaplaincy, and the academic courses at Northeast Brazil Adventist University (NeBAU) would result in better spiritual well-being among its students. This study also examined whether there was a connection between the perception of social support and spiritual well-being. This correlation might present a problem because students’ perception of social support may not always relate to positively increasing their spiritual well-being. Furthermore, a lack of adequate social support for students can negatively relate to spirituality. Overall, this study sought to analyze the relationship between religious attitudes, social support, and spiritual well-being in NeBAU students.

Method

A quantitative, non-experimental survey design was used to examine the relationship between religious attitudes and perceived social support as correlates of spiritual well-being among senior college students at NeBAU. Descriptive analysis and correlation were employed along with factor analysis and reliability tests of the scales. The research sample consisted of 223 senior undergraduate students in the following programs: dentistry, psychology, physiotherapy, nursing, nutrition, business, accounting, information technology, education, and theology. -- The research design that defined how the research was conducted was correlational quantitative. A quantitative design collects numerical data and uses statistical analysis to test relationships between variables. A correlational design examines whether and how two or more variables are related, without manipulating them, identifying positive, negative, or null correlation. -- The instruments were the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) evaluating the support from family, friends, and significant others; the Religious Attitudes Scale (RAS) evaluating the dimensions of cognitive, affective, and behavioral; and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), assessing the religious and existential well-being of each student.

Results

There were statistically significant relationships between the variables Spiritual Well-Being, Perceived Social Support, and Religious Attitudes for the total sample. The relationship between Perceived Social Support and Religious Attitudes was 16%. The relationship for Spiritual Well-Being with Perceived Social Support and Religious Attitudes was 27% and 41%, respectively. Religious Attitudes are better correlated with Spiritual Well-Being. -- Religious Attitudes had a significant relationship with Spiritual Well-Being for all demographic groups. This was higher for men (50%) and almost the same for both age groups, while among college majors, nursing (51%) and psychology (45%) had higher percentages and physiotherapy lower (28%). -- Perceived Social Support had a significant relationship with Spiritual Well-Being for all demographic groups. It was higher for women (33%) and the 20-26 age group (30%). For college majors, psychology (45%) had the highest percentage, and the other majors were similar to the total sample (around 27%). -- Stronger correlations were found when Perceived Social Support and Religious Attitudes are considered together. The combination of the independent variables Religious Attitudes and Perceived Social Support had a significant relationship with the dependent variable Spiritual Well-Being for the total sample and explained 49% of the variance in Spiritual Well-Being. -- The combination of Religious Attitudes and Perceived Social Support had a significant relationship with Spiritual Well-Being for all demographic groups. This was higher for men (53%), the 20-26 age group (49%), and nursing (61%) and psychology (57%) majors. Results confirm that support networks and authentic faith practices strengthen spiritual well-being.

Conclusions

This study investigated the impact of Religious Attitudes and Perceived Social Support on the Spiritual Well-Being of college seniors at NeBAU. The results confirmed positive and significant relationships between the independent variables, Religious Attitudes and Perceived Social Support, and the dependent variable, Spiritual Well-Being. College seniors were shown to possess more spiritual/religious independence from their families than first and second-year students, as well as more personal experience and maturity gained over their years at the university. This research focused on understanding their responses and analyzing which factors were more closely related to the students’ spiritual well-being. -- The conclusions for this study were: (1) Religious Attitudes and Perceived Social Support are key correlates of Spiritual Well-Being among NeBAU students. (2) Spiritual Well-Being is strengthened when faith, community, and support networks work together. (3) This study highlights the importance of the Adventist educational context in promoting holistic student development. (4) NeBAU contributes positively to students’ holistic development. (5) This study advances the dialogue between psychology, theology, and education. Overall, (6) spirituality is not isolated but lived through relationships, faith practices, and supportive environments.

Subject Area

Well-being; Undergraduates; Attitudes; Social network; Northeast Brazil Adventist University

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