Latent Growth Modeling of the Attitudes of Non-Muslims Toward Muslims in College: A Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Attitudes toward Muslims are at the core of addressing the anti-Muslim environments Muslims encounter in college and society writ large. Using longitudinal data, this study shows that colleges can spur the development of appreciative attitudes toward Muslims by non-Muslim students when they engage in two or more informal or formal social engagements across religious and spiritual identity differences. Institutional campus culture is also meaningfully connected to Muslim appreciation. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.