The role of religion and spirituality in promoting a positive campus culture: A multi-institutional study

Abstract

Discriminatory acts against religious minorities at our nation's college campuses has been too common. Previous research has linked discrimination to perceptions of a hostile campus climate, which negatively influences students learning and development. This study investigated the correlates of two measures that capture students' perception of the campus climate. It pays particular attention to the role of religious identity and attending a religiously affiliated institution to assess how these factors influence students' perception of the respect for their beliefs and comfort in expressing their views on campus. The results indicate few differences by religious identity in students' perception of the respect for their beliefs, but significant differences by religion in their comfort in expressing their views. Additionally, attending a religiously affiliated institution was positively correlated with students' comfort in expressing their beliefs, even for religious minorities.