Is Spirituality The Cure For MBA Anxiety?

Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business and Management

Recent research suggests U.S. workers are more anxious, alone and isolated than ever. According to the 2022 “Work Habits Study,” 40% of adult workers said they are experiencing more depression and anxiety, 30% are lonelier and 52% of respondents claim to be spending more time on their devices than prior to the pandemic. It’s not surprising graduate business programs are concerned about the same phenomenon. Measures such as wellness weeks and mental health counseling are standard offerings aimed at addressing the Anxiety Pandemic.

At the same time, a growing body of research suggests spirituality may be the key to positive well-being. In a landmark 2020 study in the Health Psychology Journal, researchers surveyed 595 college students from six different universities whose study programs either focused on the human body or the human mind and spirit. Results showed not only a positive relationship between spirituality and psychological well-being but also health benefits.

As a university founded on Christian principles, spirituality has long been a part of Pepperdine Graziadio Business School’s approach to instruction and campus life. We are steeped in spiritual traditions such as sabbath rest and fellowship gatherings. Now, it seems, nonsecular research is catching up with what we’ve experienced and known: Spirituality is beneficial and profitable.

3 SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF ALL MBA STUDENTS

From a vantage point as Spiritual Life Officer at Pepperdine Graziadio (the only such position in the U.S.), there are universal spiritual needs all MBA students can pursue to manage anxiety and establish greater well-being. With the help of Dr. Louis “Jody” Fry, here are three to note:

  • Inner life. According to consulting firm CreativityAtWork, having a rich inner life means being in touch with your true self and the vast terrain of your hopes and dreams, thoughts, emotions, instincts, and intuition. MBA programs that encourage exploration of a rich inner life prepare students to be secure and achieve higher level leadership. For example, meditation and prayer can offer a sense of value and connection to a larger being or life scheme.
  • Calling. Many religions teach that the concept of calling goes deeper than any one aspect of life. It is an urge, desire and passion that fuels an overall sense of purpose. MBA programs are an optimal proving ground to discover gifts and strengths that can help an aspiring professional achieve meaning and joy. MBA programs can push students outside their comfort zone, remove work bias and inspire new thinking. Together, these experiences help set an internal compass toward a true calling.
  • Community. MBA programs should encourage cooperation and friendship, the foundation of community. Students in MBA programs benefit from spiritual practices like yoga and meditation, as well as dedication to noble values such as kindness and respect that help foster a positive community. Especially in times of adversity, a community of supportive, caring peers can help an MBA student respond, adapt and recover.

To be certain, the anxiety pandemic that many MBA students (and U.S. workers) are experiencing is far from over. According to the most recent data available, 13.2% of adults aged 18 and over used antidepressant medications in the past 30 days. Antidepressant medication use was higher for adults with at least some college education (14.3%) compared with those with a high school education (11.5%) or less (11.4%). Making a finer point these findings were based on 2015-2018 data — before the Covid pandemic.

Flash forward to present day, and mental health remains an issue of crisis proportion. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommended anxiety screening in primary care for adults without symptoms. The net impact of anxiety is far reaching including uncontrollable worry, irritability, exhaustion, sleeplessness, panic attacks and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Spirituality is not a replacement for a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan for severe anxiety. However, a mindset and practices associated with spirituality can encourage well-being during the MBA experience and carry on to a lifetime of benefits.


Dr. Robert Woodcock is the spiritual life officer for the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in transformational leadership from Ashland University & Seminary in Ashland, Ohio.

Questions about this article? Email us or leave a comment below.