BGSU Zoom News

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Spiritual struggles and mental health | BGSU Russian Program hosts Ohio Olympiada of Spoken Russian

Drs. Carmen Oemig Dworsky and Kenneth Pargament

Spiritual struggles and mental health

Phrases like “spiritual struggle” and “experiential avoidance” might not typically be heard in everyday conversation, but a short chat with Bowling Green State University psychology professor Dr. Kenneth Pargament and alumna Dr. Carmen Oemig Dworsky explains why they should be. And why they are important concepts for college students to understand.

In simple terms, spiritual struggles are those that involve any great life question, conflicts with God, the meaning of life, or mortality. Experiential avoidance involves attempts to avoid thoughts and feelings even when doing so is ultimately harmful or at odds with personal goals or values.

Through the study of 307 adults, the pair, along with research assistant Serena Wong, a BGSU Ph.D. student, and Dr. Julie Exline, a professor of psychological sciences at Case Western Reserve University, found that avoiding spiritual struggles can lead to poorer mental, physical and psychological health.

Results of the study were recently published in the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science.

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BGSU students excel in Ohio Olympiada of Spoken Russian

Student Success
BGSU Russian Program hosts Ohio Olympiada of Spoken Russian

BGSU students scored high in a statewide Russian competition hosted by the University on Feb. 25, in the Bowen Thompson-Student Union. Seventy participants from Ohio universities and colleges and Wayne State University took part. This is the third time BGSU has hosted the event since its inception in 2010.

BGSU students took first and second place on the second-year level, third place on the third-year level, and second place in the heritage speakers competition. Irina Stakhanova, Russian, organized the event, which is sponsored by Ohio State University’s Center for Slavic and East European Studies.

OBITUARIES
Ronald Hover, 68, died Feb. 24 in Bowling Green. The former recreation facilities manager at the Student Recreation Center, he worked at the University from 1994-2002. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. April 8 at Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home, 1460 W. Wooster St.

Zoom News Spring Break Schedule

Zoom News will not publish March 6 or 9 because of Spring Break. Publication will resume the week of March 13.