The Effect of Spirituality Level on Attitudes toward Spiritual Counseling: The Case of Psychology and Theology Students

Abstract

Spiritual counseling (SC) and guidance has recently become an emerging field of interest in both academic and applied settings in Turkey. Therefore, understanding the attitudes of students from psychology and theology—two disciplines closely related to this field—is of particular importance. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between spirituality levels and attitudes toward spiritual counseling among psychology and theology students. The study was conducted using a correlational survey design. Sample comprised 496 undergraduate students enrolled in the psychology and theology departments at Mardin Artuklu University. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Spirituality Scale, and the Attitude Toward Spiritual Counseling Scale. Analyses were performed using SPSS through t-tests, Pearson correlations, and simple linear regression techniques. The findings revealed a moderate, positive, and statistically significant relationship between students' spirituality levels and their attitudes toward spiritual counseling. Regression analysis indicated that spirituality predicted 17% of the variance in attitudes toward spiritual counseling. While gender and department did not significantly differentiate attitudes toward spiritual counseling, significant differences were observed in spirituality levels. These results suggest that students' spiritual tendencies play a meaningful role in shaping their attitudes toward spiritual counseling. Overall, the findings provide insights that may contribute to educational practices, professional training, and policy development in the field of spiritual counseling.