Forming a Spiritual Identity:

The Spiritual Development of Young Adults

Dr. Preston VanLoon

Iowa Wesleyan College

Professor and Acting Chaplain

March 1, 2009

My Experience

Personally:

Parentally:

The Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood

• Sets the stage for later adult life.• Can function as a turning point, providing

opportunities for change from negative to more positive developmental pathways in subsequent developmental periods.

• Successful development of skills, competencies, and behaviors that are beneficial to self and society during this period can lead to later thriving in adulthood.

Young Adulthood is often described in termsof the new roles and statuses adopted duringthis stage.

What are some of the life changes that young adults experience at this time in life?

• Leaving parental home• Establishing one’s own residence• Establishing financial independence• Completing school• Moving into full-time employment• Getting married• Becoming a parent• Forming their own belief system

What is spirituality?

A holistic approach:

• Physical

• Emotional

• Social

• Mental

• Moral

The Spiritual Development of Young Adults• Beliefs about Spirituality• Factors that Influence Spiritual

Development• Implications for Addressing Spiritual

Development

What Young Adults Believe about Spirituality

1. Most youth believe life has a spiritual dimension.

What does it mean to young adults to be spiritual?

• There is a purpose to life (36%, US 41%)• Believing in God (32%, 33%)• Being true to one’s inner self/inner peace or

happiness (26%, 25% )• Don’t think there is a spiritual dimension to life

(7%, 10%)

2. Many young people want to talk about spiritual matters.

How often do you think young adults discuss spiritual matters?

1/3 of youth talk about spiritual issues monthly with their friends such as the meaning of life, why we are on earth, or God or faith.

2/3 of youth have talked with their parents: • a few times in the past 12 months about their

parents beliefs and faith.• 24% have these conversations at least once a

month.• 12% have these conversations weekly.

3. Many youth believe in and/or experience God or a higher power.

What are some things you think young adults believe about God and life?

• A large majority believe that there is a God or higher power.

• 8% do not believe in God.• 10% said they did not know.

Spiritual beliefs about life:• All living things are connected to each other.• There is life after death.• They have experienced God or some other

mysterious presence.• There is a spirit world, spiritual beings, or spiritual

powers.

4. Youth see spirituality and religion as related, but different.

What do you think young adults believe about spirituality and religion?

• 34% indicated they are both spiritual and religious.• 23% indicated they are spiritual, but not religious.

Quotes:“Spirituality is the search for answers and religion provides the answers.”

“Religion is more of a place…it’s there you are supposed to find spirituality.”

“You don’t have to be religious to be spiritual, but you do have to be spiritual to be religious.”

5. Most young people see both spirituality and religion as positive.

What kind of thoughts do you think young adults have about religion? Spirituality?

A majority of youth see being both spiritual and religious as “usually good.”

Other youth saw religion less positively than spirituality.

Quotes:“Spiritual is something one experiences in your own being. Religion is, well, your own religion. Most of our religion is forced.”

“Religious is kind of knowing the things in your head, but spiritual is knowing them in your heart.”

The Influence of Spiritual Development

Factors that influence spiritual development.

What do you think are some activities or practices that influence young adult spiritual development?

50% of young adults engage in some of the following practices:

• Reading books• Praying or meditating alone.• Helping others• Showing love or compassion to others.

Groups or people that support young adult

social-spiritual development.

What groups or organizations do you think influence young adult development?

• Family (44%)• Friends (15%)• Religious Organization (14%)• School (6%)• Youth Organization (4%)• No one (18%)

The influence of parents.

Up to 2/3 of youth saw their parents expressing their own religious or spiritual practices or beliefs at least a few times in the past 12 months.

1/3 to 1/2 of the youth surveyed did not ever engage in spiritual or religious activities with their parents or see their parents engage in these activities.

Most common was seeing parents:• Be joyful because of their religious faith. (70%)• Pray or meditate by themselves. (70%)• Talk with their parents about religious beliefs.

(65%)

Hours per week in religious services, groups,

or programs:

• 33% said that they spend 0 hours per week. (US 34%)

• 39% said that they spend 1-2 hours per week. (US 28%)

• 28% said that they spend 3 or more hours per week. (US 38%)

Implications for Addressing Young Adult Spiritual Development

For Youth:

For Parents:

For Educators and Youth Workers: