Young Generation & The Meaning of Life
www.spirituality.ucla.edu

According to research, today’s college students have a very high level of interest and involvement in spirituality and religion. The majority (76%) also report that they are searching for meaning and purpose in life. Only 17% of students report they do NOT consider themselves to be on a spiritual quest.

This survey of 112,232 students at 236 colleges and universities also found large numbers of students having discussions about the meaning and purpose of life (74%). Other evidence of students’ spiritual quest is provided by the substantial percentages endorsing each of the following life goals as either “essential” or “very important”:

• Attaining wisdom 77%

• Becoming a more loving person 67%

• Seeking beauty in life 54%

• Improving human condition 54%

• Attaining inner harmony 49%

• Finding answers to life’s mysteries 45%

• Developing a meaningful philosophy of life 42%

Researchers developed a “Spiritual Quest” scale by combining students’ answers to these life goal questions with their answers to the questions concerning meaning and purpose and being on a spiritual quest.

“Results show students are clearly very interested in these larger life questions, and are exploring them while in college. The challenge for higher education practitioners is to understand the priority young people place on these issues and consider how students can best be supported in their questing efforts,” said Alexander W. Astin, the Co-Principal Investigator for the project.

Religious Differences

The study found a relationship between students’ religious preference and whether or not they are on a spiritual quest. Among those with the highest scores on “Spiritual Quest” are students indicating their religious preference as: Unitarian, Mormon, Islamic, Buddhist, Eastern Orthodox, and 7th Day Adventist. Students who identify as Lutheran, Quaker, or Jewish, or who indicate “none” as their religious preference are among the lowest scorers.

Being on a spiritual quest is not synonymous with being settled in one’s religious beliefs. When asked to characterize their current beliefs, 36% of high scorers report that they are “seeking,” compared to only 12% of low scorers. At the same time 19% of high scorers, compared to 12% of low scorers, say they are “conflicted.” Similarly, more high scorers (11%) than low scorers (9%) say they are “doubting.” On the other hand, those high scorers on Spiritual Quest are more likely than their low scoring peers to say they are “secure” in their religious beliefs (48% vs. 40%) and report that they pray (39% vs. 15%) or meditate (10% vs. 1%) on a daily basis.

Gender Differences

Not surprisingly, more women than men are on a spiritual quest.

• 79% of women vs. 72% of men are searching for meaning and purpose in life;

• 74% of women vs. 58% of men are striving to become a more loving person;

• 59% of women vs. 48% of men are seeking beauty in their lives;

• 58% of women vs. 49% of men consider it very important to improve the human condition; and

• 52% of women vs. to 45% of men are striving to attain inner harmony. 

Motivations for Attending College

Findings also show students’ Spiritual Quest inclinations may affect their motivation for attending college. Among freshmen who score high on Spiritual Quest, 71% indicate that “finding my purpose in life” is an “essential” or “very important” reason for them to go to college. Only 30% of low scorers indicate the same. Similar patterns are evident when researchers compare the percentages of high and low Spiritual Quest scorers who believe that it is “essential” or “very important” for their campus to enhance their self understanding (90% of high scorers vs. 41% of low scorers); provide for emotional development (85% of high scorers vs. 38% of low scorers); and encourage personal expression of spirituality (73% of high scorers vs. 23% of low scorers).

Their views of the World

How do students on a spiritual quest view their place in the world and their relationship to others? Researchers found they exemplify an “Ethic of Caring” (commitment to values such as helping others in difficulty, reducing pain and suffering in the world, making the world a better place); hold an “Ecumenical Worldview” (interest in different religious traditions, seeking to understand other countries and cultures, and believing love is at the root of all great religions); and demonstrate a sense of “Equanimity” (feeling at peace/centered, being able to find meaning in times of hardship, and feeling a strong connection to all of humanity). 

Internal Struggle

As they search for meaning and purpose in life, some also experience struggles that reflect internal concerns about spiritual matters. For example, one-fourth report that they experience some conflict or have doubts about spiritual/religious matters. Moreover, 11% score high on “Spiritual Struggle,” a scale composed of items that reflect questioning of one’s religious/spiritual beliefs; struggling to understand evil, suffering and death; and feeling disillusioned with one’s religious upbringing.

The Study

These findings are part of HERI’s multi-year study, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, which examines how college students conceive spirituality and its role in their lives, as well as how postsecondary institutions can better facilitate students’ spiritual development.

In April 2005, HERI released a major report based on the survey findings entitled, The Spiritual Life of College Students, which indicated students are searching for deeper meaning in their lives, looking for ways to cultivate their inner selves, seeking to be compassionate and charitable, and determining what they think and feel about many issues confronting society and the global community.

In addition to high levels of interest and involvement in spirituality and religion, the study showed students have high expectations for the role colleges and universities can play in their spiritual and emotional development. More than two-thirds say that it is “essential” or “very important” that their college enhances their self-understanding and rate highly the role they want their college to play in developing their personal values. Nearly half also say that it is “essential” or “very important” that colleges encourage their personal expression of spirituality.

Note: The “scales” or “factors” described measure various aspects of students’ spirituality and religiousness by combining a number of questionnaire items with similar content.