ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the correlation between anxiety symptoms among Polish high school students and their levels of religiosity and spirituality. Specifically, it examines whether differences in anxiety levels exist between students from public and Catholic schools, as well as variations in religiosity and spirituality across these groups. The study also explores the relationship between students’ self-reported anxiety symptoms and their expressions of religiosity and spirituality. Empirical research conducted in 2023 involved 341 students from a Catholic school and 214 from a public school in Cracow. Anxiety levels were assessed using the SL-C personality trait scale developed by Michał Piksa, Edyta Kosiorowska and Krystyna Golonka, supplemented by an original survey on religiosity and spirituality based on the works of Janusz Marianski and Halina Mielicka. Findings indicate a significant correlation between spirituality and anxiety levels, suggesting that spirituality may have a beneficial impact on mitigating anxiety among youth. This chapter contributes to education for peace (EFP) by shedding light on factors influencing mental well-being in educational settings and proposing strategies to foster spiritual and psychological resilience among students.
