1. The Associations of Greek and Religious Organization Participation with College Students' Social Well-Being and Purpose
- Author
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Eric D. Wesselmann, Margaret M. Nauta, Gina M. Turton, William G. Graziano, and Miranda M. McIntyre
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Religion and Psychology ,Adolescent ,Universities ,Social connectedness ,Fraternity ,050109 social psychology ,Education ,Young Adult ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,medicine ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Social Behavior ,Students ,General Psychology ,Internet ,Organizations ,Loneliness ,05 social sciences ,Social well being ,050301 education ,Middle Aged ,Social relation ,Peer relations ,Business, Management and Accounting (miscellaneous) ,Christian ministry ,Female ,Religious organization ,medicine.symptom ,Psychology ,0503 education ,Social psychology - Abstract
Two online-survey studies examined the associations of Greek (i.e., sorority and fraternity) and religious (i.e., church or campus ministry) organization participation with college students' social well-being and sense of purpose. In study 1 (N = 281), religious organization membership (versus no membership) was associated with connectedness and purpose, but for Greek organizations the associations held only with respect to level of organization involvement. In study 2 (N = 426), Greek and religious organization membership were both associated with most social well-being and purpose indicators, but only Greek membership was linked to lower loneliness. As in study 1, level of involvement in Greek, but not religious, organizations was linked to social well-being. Hypothesized moderators of the associations between organization membership and the purpose and social well-being variables were not supported. We discuss implications for professionals who work with college students to promote well-being, and we present future research ideas.
- Published
- 2018