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'I Get to Make My Own Decisions': Understanding Black Christian Students' Spiritual Development Journeys

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Title: 'I Get to Make My Own Decisions': Understanding Black Christian Students' Spiritual Development Journeys
Language: English
Authors: Terra N. Hall (ORCID 0000-0003-3639-6038)
Source: Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. 2025 18(1):S390-S403.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: African American Students, Christianity, Spiritual Development, Influences, Religious Factors, Early Experience, Elementary Secondary Education, Family Influence, Church Role, Religious Schools, Individual Development, Undergraduate Students, Predominantly White Institutions
DOI: 10.1037/dhe0000576
ISSN: 1938-8926
1938-8934
Abstract: While existing scholarship has illuminated benefits that individuals gain from their religious and spiritual engagement, how and to what degree individuals engage may vary. Although student development theory compels us to attend to students' salient identities (Jones & Abes, 2013), religion and spirituality remain underresearched in higher education (Chae et al., 2004; Donahoo & Caffey, 2010; Park, 2017). Despite the salience of religion and spirituality among many Black communities (Bacchus & Holley, 2004; McRae et al., 1999; Taylor & Chatters, 2010), and Christianity being the dominant religion for Black Americans (Diamant et al., 2022), scholarship that centers the intersections of race, religion, and spirituality remains limited. Thus, there are opportunities to understand Black Christian students' spiritual development journeys and what influences Black Christian college students' formation of religious and spiritual practices. Data for this inquiry is drawn from a larger critical constructivist narrative study where semistructured interviews and visual data with 13 Black and spiritual students provided insight into Black students' spiritual development journeys. Findings indicate three themes: Black Christian students' early religious socialization through family, church, and religious-affiliated K-12 schools; the presence of religious and spiritual practices prior to their college-going years; and the development of new religious and spiritual practices during their college-going years. Baxter Magolda's (2009) concept of meaning-making was utilized to understand Black Christian students' early reliance upon external formulas, crossroad moments, and ultimate journeys to self-authorship. Implications for research and practice are provided to institutions and institutional personnel who seek to holistically support Black Christian students.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506221
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: 'I Get to Make My Own Decisions': Understanding Black Christian Students' Spiritual Development Journeys
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Terra+N%2E+Hall%22">Terra N. Hall</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3639-6038">0000-0003-3639-6038</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Diversity+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>Journal of Diversity in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 18(1):S390-S403.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: 14
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22African+American+Students%22">African American Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Christianity%22">Christianity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spiritual+Development%22">Spiritual Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Influences%22">Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religious+Factors%22">Religious Factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+Experience%22">Early Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Family+Influence%22">Family Influence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Church+Role%22">Church Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religious+Schools%22">Religious Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Development%22">Individual Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predominantly+White+Institutions%22">Predominantly White Institutions</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dhe0000576
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  Data: 1938-8926<br />1938-8934
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: While existing scholarship has illuminated benefits that individuals gain from their religious and spiritual engagement, how and to what degree individuals engage may vary. Although student development theory compels us to attend to students' salient identities (Jones & Abes, 2013), religion and spirituality remain underresearched in higher education (Chae et al., 2004; Donahoo & Caffey, 2010; Park, 2017). Despite the salience of religion and spirituality among many Black communities (Bacchus & Holley, 2004; McRae et al., 1999; Taylor & Chatters, 2010), and Christianity being the dominant religion for Black Americans (Diamant et al., 2022), scholarship that centers the intersections of race, religion, and spirituality remains limited. Thus, there are opportunities to understand Black Christian students' spiritual development journeys and what influences Black Christian college students' formation of religious and spiritual practices. Data for this inquiry is drawn from a larger critical constructivist narrative study where semistructured interviews and visual data with 13 Black and spiritual students provided insight into Black students' spiritual development journeys. Findings indicate three themes: Black Christian students' early religious socialization through family, church, and religious-affiliated K-12 schools; the presence of religious and spiritual practices prior to their college-going years; and the development of new religious and spiritual practices during their college-going years. Baxter Magolda's (2009) concept of meaning-making was utilized to understand Black Christian students' early reliance upon external formulas, crossroad moments, and ultimate journeys to self-authorship. Implications for research and practice are provided to institutions and institutional personnel who seek to holistically support Black Christian students.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1506221
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        Value: 10.1037/dhe0000576
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        StartPage: S390
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: African American Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Christianity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spiritual Development
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      – SubjectFull: Influences
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      – SubjectFull: Religious Factors
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      – SubjectFull: Early Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
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      – SubjectFull: Family Influence
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      – SubjectFull: Church Role
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      – SubjectFull: Religious Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Individual Development
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      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
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      – SubjectFull: Predominantly White Institutions
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      – TitleFull: 'I Get to Make My Own Decisions': Understanding Black Christian Students' Spiritual Development Journeys
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