Campus Location
Abilene Campus (Residential)
Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Psychology
Degree Name
Master of Science
Committee Chair or Primary Advisor
Richard Beck
Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor
Brianne George
Third Committee Member or Committee Reader
John Casada
Abstract
ABSTRACT This study investigates the relationships among anxiety, self-esteem, and religiosity in a sample of 131 college students attending a private Christian university. Anxiety is a prevalent mental health concern for college students, often leading to detrimental effects on academic performance and overall well-being (Center for Collegiate Mental Health, 2020, 2022, as cited in Tan et al., 2023). Self-esteem, a critical component of self-concept, plays a significant role in mental health outcomes, with lower self-esteem linked to higher levels of anxiety (Baumeister et al., 2003; Beck, 1967). Religiosity has been identified as a potential coping mechanism, offering emotional support and fostering a sense of purpose and community (Franklin, 2016; Taylor et al., 2004). The study aimed to explore whether religiosity moderates the relationship between anxiety and self-esteem. Three hypotheses were tested: (1) self-esteem will be negatively correlated with anxiety, (2) religiosity will be negatively correlated with anxiety, and (3) religiosity will moderate the relationship between anxiety and self-esteem by reducing the strength of the association when controlling for religiosity. Participants completed three validated instruments: the Religious Commitment Inventory-10 (Worthington, 2003), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck et al., 1988). Findings revealed a significant negative correlation between self-esteem and anxiety (r = -.40, p < .001) and a positive correlation between self-esteem and religious commitment (r = .18, p < .05). However, religious commitment was not directly correlated with anxiety (r = -.10, p = .13) and did not moderate the relationship between anxiety and self-esteem when controlled for. These results suggest that religiosity may play an indirect role in mental health by influencing anxiety and self-esteem separately. This study contributes to the understanding of how anxiety, self-esteem, and religiosity interact, offering valuable insights into potential coping mechanisms for college students, particularly within faith-based educational settings. Future research should further explore the nuanced role of religiosity and its potential mediating factors to support holistic mental health interventions for young adults.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Rojo, Maximo Fuentes Jr, "The Relationship Between Anxiety, Self-Esteem, and Religiosity Among College Students at a Private Christian University" (2025). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 885.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/885
Comments
This study offers insights into the interaction between mental health and religiosity within faith-based educational environments.