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Abstract

When students transition away from their homes and into higher education, they enter a social environment where they are free, if not encouraged, to question and explore their values and beliefs, including their beliefs of God. Practicing Christians often report having a relationship with God, a conception that implies a dynamic and social process at work. This longitudinal study had two goals: (a) examine collegians’ relationship with God in terms of their God image, His involvement in their lives, and the importance of their faith, at two time points in their first year of college; (b) examine how these God relational dimensions interplay with student relationships and health. Results suggest that not only do a majority of students hold a strong relational view of God, but that their views are increasingly associated with their health over time. The implications of these findings as well as future research directions are discussed.

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