Attitudes and Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists Concerning Psychology, Counseling, and Mental

360 Pages·2017·3.67 MB·English

by  Kristy Koeppe

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Dissertations Graduate Research
2014
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Kristy Koeppe
Andrews University
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Koeppe, Kristy, "Attitudes and Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists Concerning Psychology, Counseling, and
Mental Health Issues" (2014). Dissertations. 496.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/496
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ABSTRACT

ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
CONCERNING PSYCHOLOGY, COUNSELING, AND
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

by

Kristy Koeppe

Chair: Rudolph Bailey
ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH

Dissertation

Andrews University
School of Education

Title: ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
CONCERNING PSYCHOLOGY, COUNSELING, AND MENTAL HEALTH
ISSSUES

Name of researcher: Kristy Koeppe

Name and degree of faculty chair: Rudolph Bailey, Ph.D.

Date completed: April 2014

Problem
As in the mainstream population, Adventists are dealing with a variety of mental
health issues, and there has been no empirical research which explored their attitudes and
beliefs concerning psychology, counseling, and mental health issues.

Method
A survey was used to collect data on beliefs about psychology, attitudes towards
counseling, beliefs about mental health issues, and beliefs about medical care from a
sample of 317 Adventist adults from the Illinois Conference. Data were also analyzed to
understand the relationship between the independent variables—gender, utilization of
psychological services, the Seventh-day Adventist’s degree of knowledge about the
writings of Ellen G. White on psychology, and the Seventh-day Adventist’s degree of
knowledge about the writings of Adventists on psychology—and the dependent variables:
beliefs about psychology, attitudes toward counseling, and beliefs about mental health
issues.

Results
The study showed that, in general, Adventists have positive beliefs towards
psychology and mental health issues and positive attitudes towards counseling. Using
categorical regression, the study also indicated that having knowledge about psychology
is related to having positive beliefs about psychology as a legitimate science, having
positive attitudes about the role of counseling, having positive attitudes about
participating in counseling, and having positive beliefs about the existence of mental
health issues. Adventists who are currently or have used psychological services in the
past have positive beliefs about psychology, positive understanding of the role of
counseling, and positive attitudes about participating in counseling.

Conclusions
Positive beliefs and attitudes of Adventists concerning psychology, counseling,
and mental health issues are confirmed. With this information, mental health workers
can be better equipped to serve the Adventist community. The conclusions gleaned from
this study can also serve as a catalyst for beginning a dialogue among the Adventist
church leadership to understand how they can better support the congregants who have
mental health needs.
Andrews University
School of Education

ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
CONCERNING PSYCHOLOGY, COUNSELING, AND
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

A Dissertation
Presented in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy

by
Kristy Koeppe
April 2014
© Copyright by Kristy M. Koeppe 2014
All Rights Reserved
ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
CONCERNING PSYCHOLOGY, COUNSELING, AND
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

A dissertation
presented in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
Doctor of Philosophy

by
Kristy M. Koeppe

APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE:

____________________________ ________________________
Chair: Rudolph Bailey Dean, School of Education
James R. Jeffery

____________________________
Member: Dennis Waite

____________________________
Member: Karl Bailey

____________________________ ________________________
External: Lionel Matthews Date approved
Dedicated to Mary Doty, PhD,
who taught me that because this work we do is so very hard,
we can’t forget to laugh.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... viii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................... x

Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1

Background of the Problem .................................................................... 1
Statement of the Problem ....................................................................... 10
Purpose of the Study .............................................................................. 10
Research Questions ................................................................................ 11
Definition of Terms ................................................................................ 15
Rationale for the Study ........................................................................... 15
Conceptual Framework .......................................................................... 16
Significance of the Study ....................................................................... 21
Limitations ............................................................................................. 22
Delimitations .......................................................................................... 22
Assumptions ........................................................................................... 23
Organization of the Study ...................................................................... 23

2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ............................................................... 24

Attitudes and Beliefs Towards Psychology, Counseling, and Mental
Health Issues ................................................................................... 24
Seventh-Day Adventism: Historical Overview ..................................... 32
Millerite Movement, the “Great Disappointment,” and the
Development of the Church ..................................................... 32
Mind/Body Connection ................................................................... 34
Development of the Adventist Health Message and Health
Care System ............................................................................. 36
Diet ........................................................................................... 37
Medicine .................................................................................. 38
Psychology, Counseling, Mental Health Issues, and the Seventh-day
Adventist Church ............................................................................ 46
The Development of Psychology During the 19th Century ............. 46
Ellen G. White’s Views Towards Psychology, Counseling, and
Mental Health Issues ................................................................ 51
Mental Health Issues and Psychology ..................................... 51
Counseling ............................................................................... 53
iv