Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this doctoral dissertation was to explore the relationship between RSDHE, personal-communal identity gaps, and students' intention to leave their higher education institution. An expanded understanding of the relationship between RSDHE and its outcomes for undergraduate students has the potential to assist students, faculty, and higher education administrators in strengthening student success and reducing attrition. Methodology. The 151 participants from universities and colleges in the United States and 96 participants from a private university in Southern California shared their perceptions of their experiences of RSDHE at the institutions of higher education they attended as undergraduate students. Participants responded to 3 research instruments assessing (a) religious and spiritual dissonance in higher education, with subdimensions of fit and tension, (b) personal-communal identity gap, and (c) students' intention to leave their college or university. Findings. Analysis of quantitative data collected from the national sample (n = 151) and the private university sample (n = 96) resulted in significant and typically moderate correlations between the RSDHE dimensions of tension and fit and personal-communal gaps and intention to leave. The results indicated similar patterns of relationship for both samples. The RSDHE instrument created for this study was found to be reliable. Conclusions. The study data supported the suggestion that there is a relationship between students' experiences of RSDHE, personal-communal gaps, and students' intention to leave their college or university. Fit appears to predict lower personal-communal gaps and intention to leave, while tension predicts larger personal-communal gaps and greater intention to leave. Recommendations. Further research is advised: Given that the fit and tension subscales of RSDHE are new, further studies are needed to support the reliability and validity of the subscales. Also, different geographical locations and different institutions of higher education should be included in future studies to confirm the relationship found in this study between RSDHE, personal-communal gap, and intention to leave.