title: Change in religious beliefs, parental pressure, and attitudes of college students toward higher education as related to religious fundamentalism.
abstract: Men (n = 55) and women (n = 99) college students (M age = 22.3 yr., SD = 6.1, range 18 to 58 years), from a moderate-sized midwestern university reported attitudes toward the goals and purposes of higher education, perceptions of parental pressure and support, and change in religious beliefs. The Religious Fundamentalist Scale, the Quest Scale, Faith-keeping, and Obedience to Parents Scales were also administered. Students classified as religious fundamentalists had more negative attitudes toward the goals and purposes of higher education goals and toward faculty. An interaction of Sex x Fundamentalist Classification indicated that nonfundamentalist college men reported greater change in their religious beliefs, relative to other groups. Perceptions of parental pressure or support were unrelated to scores on fundamentalism. The implications of students' religious backgrounds in relation to academic success were discussed.
authors.affiliation: S E. Missouri State University, 27-G Scully Bldg., One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, USA. rasebby@semo.edu
authors.forename: Rickard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sebby
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schaefer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012067:Religion; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities