A Survey of a Rural Southwest Arkansas Baptist University on Engagement in Spiritual Disciplines and Attitudes Toward Nutrition in the Church

Background: Due to America’s declining health, effective interventions are needed to reverse the trend. Churches may be an ideal setting for these interventions because of established resources and the potential for intrinsic motivation. Objective: The purpose of this research was to assess the current efforts of churches to influence health by surveying students of a Baptist liberal arts university in Southwest Arkansas. Methods: Before conducting the survey, the study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Ouachita Baptist University. The questionnaire included basic demographic information and a series of statements with Likert scales. Sixty-six individuals were recruited from the student body at Ouachita Baptist University. Subjects were invited to fill out the questionnaire via emails from their professors, and participation was voluntary. Data was tabulated using SurveyMonkey, which provided totals and percentages. Results: The survey received a total of 58 complete responses. The sample population overall considered themselves to be spiritually active, but their friends slightly less so. The majority of respondents agreed that both spiritual and physical well-being was important to them. Respondents tended to disagree with the statements that promoting nutritious eating was a priority of their church and pastoral staff. Conclusions: While respondents valued both physical and spiritual health, the respondents mostly did not believe there was a connection between the two values, and neither did they see a connection in the priorities of their churches