Presented by the Spirituality, Religion and Student Health Coalition 2011 ACHA Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.

Presented by the Spirituality, Religion and Student Health

Coalition

2011 ACHA Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ

PanelistsPaul Myers, Ph.D., University of PortlandMichelle Harcrow, Ph.D., The University of AlabamaRev. Elizabeth Ritzman, L.C.P.C., Dominican UniversityRebecca Davis Mathias, Ph.D., Dominican UniversityKathleen Malara, MSN, FNP-BC, CTTS, Fordham

UniversityAlice Kimble, RN, BSN, MS, Bellarmine UniversityJo McGuffin, Ph.D., FACHE, Central Oklahoma UniversitySarah Faith Evans, MS, LPC, NCC, Stevenson University


Spirituality Religion and Student Health CoalitionCoalition Goals, Charges, Activities

From our ethics and ACHA Values StatementInvitation to get involved

Today’s program:We are going to hear some data to inform the

conversation and maybe challenge some assumptions

We are going to hear 5 case studiesQuestions and Answers


Michelle S. Harcrow, Ph.D.


Religiosity & Spirituality among College Students

95% of adolescents believe in God 85 - 95 % report that religion is important in

their life (Cotton, Zebracki, Rosenthal, Tsevat, & Drotar, 2006)

2008 HERI study of spirituality in higher education:79 % of college students believe in God 66 % pray 40 % think that it is very important to

follow religion every day (Astin, Astin, Lindhom, Bryant, Calderone, & Szelenyi, 2007; Myers & Kyle, 2008)


DefinitionsReligion/Religiosity is an organized system of beliefs,

practices, rituals, and symbols designed (a) to facilitate closeness to the sacred or transcendent (God, higher power, or ultimate truth/reality) and (b) to foster an understanding of one’s relationship and responsibility to others in living together in a community.

Spirituality is the personal quest for understanding answers to ultimate questions about life, about meaning, and about relationship to the sacred or transcendent, which may (or may not) lead to or arise from the development of religious rituals and the formation of community.

Handbook of Religion & Health (Koenig, McCullough, & Larson, 2001)


Definition of Terms

Religion SpiritualityCommunity focused Individualistic (not always)

Observable, measurable, objective Less visible & measurable, subjective

Formal, orthodox, organized Less formal, less orthodox, less systematic

Behavior oriented, outward practices

Emotionally oriented, inward directed

Authoritarian in terms of behaviors Not authoritarian, little accountability

Doctrine separating good from evil Unifying, not doctrine oriented

From Koenig, McCullough, & Larson (2001)2011 ACHA Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ

ReligiosityPositive relationships found between religion/spirituality

and healthinvestigation of chronic disease preventionMental health & general well-beinghost of other health issues

lower mortality rates (McCullough et al., 2000; Koenig et al., 1999).

8 years longer life expectancy compared to those who never attended church (Hummer et al., 1999; Idler et al., 2003).

Religion has been shown to be a significantly positive contribution to end-of-life events (Koenig et al., 2001).


SpiritualityNontheistic sanctification

Ascribing divine significance and character to objects such as the human body

Holy, blessed, or sacredCollege students

show high degree of spiritual interest & involvement8 in 10 students believe in God and attend religious

servicesGreat deal of comfort & security from their

spiritual/religious beliefs


Religiosity & Spirituality ResearchComplex, Multidimensional constructsCharacterized by individual attitudes, beliefs, values,

experiences, and behaviors (Ellison & Levin, 1998).

Specify each dimension being measured : multiple measures are stronger than using single indicators

More descriptive approach creating subscales of measurement & Theoretical distinction: Categories: Behavioral, Subjective, and Functional


Personal ResearchRelationships between physical activity levels, dietary fat

intake, and how factors of religiosity and spirituality influence these behaviors among college students. Social support was also be included in the study as a control variable.Social Support was significantly related to Moderate &

Vigorous physical activityBehavioral Religiosity & Functional Religiosity had weak

significant relationships with Dietary Fat Intake.


Future ResearchInvestigation of religiosity and spirituality constructsExploration of more comprehensive dietary measuresApplication of theoretical frameworkMixed methods – quantitative and qualitative


Dominican University: Staff Bioethics Consult on Student Sexual Health

Founded by Sinsinawa Dominicans (Roman Catholic)

4,000 Students, Undergraduate, Graduate, Professional; Private Liberal Arts

Suburban ChicagoIncoming Students Religious Preference: 62%

Catholic, 13% “None”, 10% other ChristianFaculty Trends: Younger, More Diverse, More

Liberal

Rev. Elizabeth Ritzman, Director, Wellness CenterRebecca Davis Mathias, Ph.D., Director, Center for Global Peace through Commerce; Consulting Ethicist, Alexian Brothers Health System2011 ACHA Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ

ERD Anxiety, NOS: Expectations for Practice Improvement Although we expect to

practice within them, the Ethical and Religious Directives were anxiety provoking and only marginally familiar to staff.

Religiously diverse multi-disciplinary team of 10 (APN, RN, Psy.D, LCSW, interns) differed on understanding and usage.

Conflict Avoidance: Chilling effect on the provider-patient collaboration when clinical issues overlapped the directives .

Open forum discussion exacerbated ERD anxiety and staff differences.

Expected to gain familiarity and competence with using the ERDs

To develop a common understanding about how each discipline uses ERDs

To fully support the student in engaging in ethical decision-making

To relieve avoidance of ethical and moral issues with patients

To eliminate the coded language about sexual health in and around our Wellness Center and clarify on campus what we do for sexual health.


Structure and Timeline for ConsultationSept-November: Director Conducted Research –

Literature Review and Sourcing; Interviewing Consultants

November: Planning Meeting with ConsultantJanuary: 2 hour Director-Consultant TrainingFebruary-2 hour Consultant-Nursing Staff

WorkshopMarch-2 hour Consultant Counseling Staff

Workshop 3 hour Whole Staff Cases Consultation

April- Surveyed Staff for OutcomesMay – 1 hour Meeting to Review Outcomes


OutcomesFamiliarity : 16.7% were familiar with the

ERDs, 37% were partially familiar Comfort level: improved from 33% to 77%

over the consult Competence: moved from 22% to 77%44% rated consult design effective 22%

partially effective Quotes: I have at times remained silent or avoided ERD related questions or issues

and now I am much more comfortable speaking to them with clients and colleagues.

…Knowing the purpose of the ERDs will help me feel more assured about my responding to ethical issues by giving the client space to explore, process, and consider options

I do not believe the consultation will significantly change my practice. It seemed that a lot of what she was telling us we already do as a matter of good social work or psychologist ethics.

Being able to engage an ethics consultant would be good.2011 ACHA Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ

U2 and Fordham University


Fordham University

A UNIVERSITY A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY A JESUIT UNIVERSITY A UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK CITY


TENETSCURA PERSONALISUNITY OF HEART AND MINDMEN AND WOMEN FOR AND WITH

OTHERSMAGIS: STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCEOVERARCHING PRICIPLESSTUDENT CENTEREDROLE MODELINGCOMMITMENT TO MISSION


MISSIONProviding holistic health care related to the

health and wellness of the University community and to assist each member in being a productive member of society.

Assisting students with the identification and management of their own health care needs.

Provide educational and prevention programs related to health and wellness to the University community throughout the academic year.

Interact with the University community and help each individual student grow and mature while at Fordham University.


Impact of Tenets and Mission in a Secular World

Religious DiversityWomen’s Empowerment GroupsLGBTQHealth Care ReformPolitical Groups


Student Health Services MissionOur mission also involves supporting the academic community’s goal of excellence through education, personal and community integrity and self-respect. We also aim towards assisting our students in developing moral and ethical values and characters that reflect the Jesuit tradition in regards to health promotion and illness prevention. These learned ideologies will enable each student to incorporate these skills achieved into their lives, their families and to the service of others now and in the future.


Bellarmine University


Bellarmine UniversityEstablished 1950Approximately 3,000 undergrad students; 2,000

graduateStudent population diversity:

46% Catholic23% Baptist, Independent Christian, Non-Denominational

Christian, Pentecostal7% Mainline Protestant (Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran,

Presbyterian, Disciples) .25% Orthodox Christian .6% Jewish .4% Muslim .27% Unitarian .23% Buddhist22% No preference, Unknown, or Other


Healthcare Issues in Faith-Based InstitutionsWhen staff, faculty and students are employed with or

attend a faith-based institution but do not identify themselves with that faith, there will always be issues.

Balance being part of the education mainstream and holding to the policies of their religion.

Even within the Catholic religion there is a lot of diversity because in understanding and interpretation differences.

What should these institutions allow that is contradictory to their policies?

Should faith based institutions receive federal funds if they do not offer contraceptive services for employees?

How ‘welcoming’ are faith based institutions obligated to be with students/staff/faculty that do not practice their faith?


Recent History of Bellarmine UniversityA ‘private university based on Catholic values’.Bellarmine’s Mission: “Bellarmine encourages

and celebrates people of all faiths.” “Contraception is not healthcare, but a

lifestyle choice”.Lifestyle choices


Student Quotes:Student quotes: “You all go out of your way to

accommodate ‘lifestyles’ – vegetarian food options, services to celebrate other religions holidays, a gay lesbian organization -- but refuse to offer condoms, which I and many others see as a basic health necessity. Why is your lifestyle choice the ‘right’ one? You shouldn’t pick and choose what you will welcome and what you will not. You should either welcome all of us or just let Catholics in.”

“Bellarmine is Catholic and all policies should reflect that. If you don’t like it, you do not have to attend here.”

“I am not Catholic, but I would think it very narrow minded to judge Catholicism based only on their recent history of pedophiles and protecting them; I know there is also a lot positive in the Catholic religion. Yet I feel this is what Catholics do when they completely denounce Planned Parenthood, when that organization does so much good.”


What can we do?Efforts to expand knowledge and

understanding

Encourage administration to be clear on policies

Know your own comfort level


What can we do?

Efforts to expand knowledge and understanding

Encourage administration to be clear on policies

Know your own comfort level



• Spirituality• Spiritual Quest• Equanimity• Religious Commitment• Religious Engagement• Religious Struggle / Skepticism• Charitable Involvement• Compassionate Self- Concept•Ethic of Caring•Ecumenical Worldview


• Wellness Center Mission - to assist in the development of life skills necessary to enhance personal levels of wellness and increase the ability to be successful in various areas of life.

•UCO Healthy Campus utilizes the Dimensions of Wellness (physical, mental, intellectual, social, spiritual, and environmental) conceptual framework which promotes wellness as largely determined by the decisions one makes to be able to live life fully – with vitality and meaning.

•Transformative Learning is a holistic process that places students at the center of their own active and reflective learning experiences. All students at UCO will have transformative learning experiences in five core areas: leadership; research, creative and scholarly activities; service learning and civic engagement; global and cultural competencies; and health and wellness.


Spiritual Wellness NetworkServes as a resource and referral network to be accessed in promoting health and wellness to those who desire their lives to be consonant with their deeper values and perceptions of the meaning of life

Serves to assist organizations wanting to provide services and programs, related to spiritual wellness, navigate through the university systems.


Sarah


Questions and AnswersSay where you are from and what person you

would like to answer your question.


Dominican University ReferencesUnited States Conference of Catholic

Bishops, Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, Fifth Edition, http://www.usccb.org/meetings/2009Fall/docs/ERDs_5th_ed_091118_FINAL.pdf

Catholic Health Alliance of Canada, Health Ethics Guide, http://www.chac.ca/resources/ethics/docs/discernment.pdf

Catholic Health Association: chausa.org/HCEUSAHealth Care Ethics USA, a quarterly newsletter

jointly published by the Center for Health Care Ethics at Saint Louis University and CHA available online.


Bellarmine BibliographyCardinal Newman Society: A public conscience for

Catholic higher education www.cardinalnewman.orgCatholics for Choice: Serves as a voice for Catholics who

believe that the Catholic tradition supports a woman’s moral and legal right to follow her conscience in matters of sexuality and reproductive health.www.catholicsforchoice.org

Ruling: College wrong to not cover birth control. Valerie Schmalz Our Sunday Visitor, August 30, 2009 www.osv.com

Labeling birth control ‘preventative medicine’ could make contraception free for US women. Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Chicago Tribune October 31, 2010 www.chicagotribune.com

Conservative Catholic College rejects Birth Control. David Neipert , November 11, 2009 Huffington Post Living www.huffingtonpost.com


Presented by the Spirituality, Religion and Student Health Coalition 2011 ACHA Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.

Documents