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Spirituality’s effect on academic resilience among race and ethnicity groups

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Abstract

Our intent was understanding the impact of spirituality on student resilience among race/ethnicity groups within the context of a parochial education. Students with high levels of resilience in high school and college settings experience academic persistence and school completion (Eisenberg, Lipson & Posselt, in New Directions for Student Services, 156: 87-95, 2016; Hartley, in Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 4: 240-250, 2013). Our observational study surveyed students in a Catholic high school and university. Resilience was significantly correlated with spirituality and higher than the norm among all race/ethnicities. However, both spirituality and resilience were higher for students of color (Blacks, Biracial and Latino/as). We found that spirituality mediated the relationship between race/ethnicity and resilience scores. Higher spirituality in students of color contributed to higher resilience.

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Correspondence to Pamela Watters.

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Caton, M.T., Watters, P. Spirituality’s effect on academic resilience among race and ethnicity groups. j. relig. educ. 71, 139–154 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40839-023-00200-5

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