Spirituality, sexual orientation, and mental health among college students.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether sexual orientation and spiritual practice affect depression and anxiety symptoms among non-heterosexual college students. Participants (n=11) were non-heterosexual college students between the ages of 18 and 26 recruited from the University of Central Oklahoma's Student Alliance For Equality. The sample size was eleven students. Data were collected using the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality, the Beck Depression Inventory II, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The independent variable of spiritual practice divided participants into two groups: those with an active spiritual practice and those with no active spiritual practice. Two independent t tests were conducted with the dependent variables depression and anxiety. Statistical analysis found no statistically significant differences in mean scores, and small effect sizes, for depression (p = .832, d = .315) and anxiety (p = .736, d = .241) by spiritual practice. These findings highlight the need for further research with consistent use of reliable and valid survey instruments.