Bridges and Barriers Bridges and Barriers in the Development of Faith, in the Development of Faith, Identity, and Life Purpose in Identity, and Life Purpose in College SeniorsCollege Seniors

Katie ByronKatie ByronWhitney GuthrieWhitney GuthrieCindy Miller-PerrinCindy Miller-PerrinDon ThompsonDon Thompson

June 13, 2006June 13, 2006

Emergence of Positive PsychologyEmergence of Positive Psychology

Traditionally, the field of psychology has Traditionally, the field of psychology has focused on individuals’ maladaptive traits and focused on individuals’ maladaptive traits and pathologiespathologies

Positive Psychology explores individual health Positive Psychology explores individual health and well-beingand well-being

Life PurposeLife Purpose

Life purpose is a popular area of research within Positive Life purpose is a popular area of research within Positive PsychologyPsychology

Life purpose is linked to well-being Life purpose is linked to well-being

Life purpose is part of Pepperdine University’s MissionLife purpose is part of Pepperdine University’s Mission

What Contributes to Life Purpose?What Contributes to Life Purpose?

FaithFaith– Religion is one context in which we encounter Religion is one context in which we encounter

commitment to an ultimate concern or purpose commitment to an ultimate concern or purpose IdentityIdentity

– Our ongoing life narratives allow us to understand Our ongoing life narratives allow us to understand who we are and where we belong – i.e. our life who we are and where we belong – i.e. our life purposepurpose

Faith and Life Purpose BridgesFaith and Life Purpose Bridges

Religious conversionReligious conversion– Life purpose evolves following conversion: euphoria, doubt, renewed Life purpose evolves following conversion: euphoria, doubt, renewed

strength and stabilitystrength and stability Core experiencesCore experiences

– Experiences of feeling close with God, including the perception that God Experiences of feeling close with God, including the perception that God dwells within, engender a sense of life purposedwells within, engender a sense of life purpose

Spiritual strivingsSpiritual strivings– Sacred goals that aim for meaningful life objectives, pertaining to a person’s Sacred goals that aim for meaningful life objectives, pertaining to a person’s

imago dei, imago dei, contribute to life purposecontribute to life purpose MysticismMysticism

– Strong emotional religious experience accompanies a strong sense of life Strong emotional religious experience accompanies a strong sense of life purposepurpose

God ControlGod Control– The degree to which individuals perceive God as being in control of their life The degree to which individuals perceive God as being in control of their life

can impact life direction or purpose can impact life direction or purpose

Identity and Life Purpose BridgesIdentity and Life Purpose Bridges

Developing a sense of identity out of life stories Developing a sense of identity out of life stories and experiences leads to life meaning and and experiences leads to life meaning and purposepurpose

Identity confusion – caused by lack of goals, Identity confusion – caused by lack of goals, based on lack of direction – negatively impacts based on lack of direction – negatively impacts life purposelife purpose

Development of life purpose helps to resolve Development of life purpose helps to resolve identity crisesidentity crises

Life Purpose Barriers Life Purpose Barriers

To date, no studies have addressed factors that inhibit To date, no studies have addressed factors that inhibit one’s understanding of life purposeone’s understanding of life purpose

For those who experience discrimination, minority status For those who experience discrimination, minority status is negatively related to personal growth is negatively related to personal growth

There are many other potential barriers to life purpose There are many other potential barriers to life purpose such as anxiety, financial circumstances, personality, etc.such as anxiety, financial circumstances, personality, etc.

Hypotheses – Bridges & Hypotheses – Bridges & Barriers to Life PurposeBarriers to Life Purpose

Faith development and identity achievement Faith development and identity achievement positively predict life purposepositively predict life purpose

Specific barriers examined in the current study Specific barriers examined in the current study negatively predict life purpose negatively predict life purpose – Personality or personal emotionsPersonality or personal emotions– Views and opinions of othersViews and opinions of others– Social pressures or personal circumstancesSocial pressures or personal circumstances

ParticipantsParticipants 89 undergraduates (mean age = 21.53)89 undergraduates (mean age = 21.53) 60% female, 40% male60% female, 40% male 67% White, 6% Asian, 6% Latino, 10% Multiracial/Other67% White, 6% Asian, 6% Latino, 10% Multiracial/Other 64% Protestant, 14% Catholic, 2% Jewish, 1% Hindu, 18% 64% Protestant, 14% Catholic, 2% Jewish, 1% Hindu, 18%

Other/NoneOther/None All participants were seniors at Pepperdine UniversityAll participants were seniors at Pepperdine University Students were selected from the 2002 entering class to Students were selected from the 2002 entering class to

participate in a longitudinal survey on faith, identity, and participate in a longitudinal survey on faith, identity, and vocation. The current study included 89 of these participants vocation. The current study included 89 of these participants who responded to two separate surveys given during their who responded to two separate surveys given during their senior yearsenior year

Measures & Scales Measures & Scales General Life Purpose ScaleGeneral Life Purpose Scale Life Purpose Barriers ScaleLife Purpose Barriers Scale Identity ScaleIdentity Scale

– Ego-Identity StatusEgo-Identity Status Faith ScalesFaith Scales

– Faith Maturity Faith Maturity – Spiritual TranscendenceSpiritual Transcendence

General Life Purpose ScaleGeneral Life Purpose Scale

Designed to measure overall sense of life purposeDesigned to measure overall sense of life purpose

Sample itemsSample items– I have a good sense of purpose in lifeI have a good sense of purpose in life– I have no sense of direction in lifeI have no sense of direction in life– My life is valuable and worthwhileMy life is valuable and worthwhile– I am making a contribution to societyI am making a contribution to society

General Life Purpose General Life Purpose ResponsesResponses

010

20

3040

50

60

7080

Disagre

e

Neutr

al

Agre

e

I have a goodsense ofpurpose in life

Life Purpose Barriers ScaleLife Purpose Barriers Scale

Measures factors that can prevent individuals Measures factors that can prevent individuals from fulfilling their life purposefrom fulfilling their life purpose

Yields scores on three subscales:Yields scores on three subscales:– Personality or personal emotionsPersonality or personal emotions

Lack of motivation, fear, being uncertain of what God wantsLack of motivation, fear, being uncertain of what God wants– Views and opinions of othersViews and opinions of others

Parents, boyfriend or girlfriend, teachersParents, boyfriend or girlfriend, teachers– Social pressures or personal circumstancesSocial pressures or personal circumstances

Financial debt, feeling limited by gender stereotypesFinancial debt, feeling limited by gender stereotypes

Life Purpose Barriers ResponsesLife Purpose Barriers Responses

05

1015202530

3540

Not at all

A little

Som

e

Much

Very

much

Need forcontrol

Life Purpose Barriers ResponsesLife Purpose Barriers Responses

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35Not at

all

A little

Som

e

Much

Ver

ym

uch

Desire forcertainty

Ego-Identity Status SurveyEgo-Identity Status Survey

Classifies subjects into one of four identity groups:Classifies subjects into one of four identity groups:– Achievement: exploration and commitmentAchievement: exploration and commitment

““It took me a while to figure it out, but now I really know what I want for a It took me a while to figure it out, but now I really know what I want for a career.”career.”

– Moratorium: exploration without commitmentMoratorium: exploration without commitment ““Religion is confusing to me right now. I keep changing my views on Religion is confusing to me right now. I keep changing my views on

what is right and wrong for me.”what is right and wrong for me.”

– Foreclosure: no exploration, but commitment Foreclosure: no exploration, but commitment ““My parents decided a long time ago what I should go into for My parents decided a long time ago what I should go into for

employment and I’m following through with their plans.”employment and I’m following through with their plans.”

– Diffusion: no exploration or commitment Diffusion: no exploration or commitment ““I haven’t really considered politics. It just doesn’t excite me much.”I haven’t really considered politics. It just doesn’t excite me much.”

Ego-Identity Status ResponsesEgo-Identity Status Responses

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Ach

ieved

Mora

torium

Fore

close

d

Diff

use

d

IdentityStatus

Faith Maturity ScaleFaith Maturity Scale

Measures values and behavioral Measures values and behavioral manifestations of faith manifestations of faith

Sample itemsSample items– My life is filled with meaning and purposeMy life is filled with meaning and purpose– I have a real sense that God is guiding me I have a real sense that God is guiding me – My faith shapes how I think and act each and every My faith shapes how I think and act each and every

dayday– I devote time to reading and studying the BibleI devote time to reading and studying the Bible

Faith Maturity ResponsesFaith Maturity Responses

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Never

or

rare

ly

Once

in a

while

Som

eti

mes

Oft

en

Alm

ost

alw

ays

My faithshapeshow Ithinkand act

Faith Maturity ResponsesFaith Maturity Responses

05

101520

25303540

Never

or

rare

ly

Once

in a

while

Som

etim

es

Oft

en

Alm

ost

alw

ays

I devote time toreading andstudying the Bible

Faith Maturity ResponsesFaith Maturity Responses

05

1015202530354045

Nev

er o

rra

rely

Once

in

while

Som

etim

es

Oft

en

Alm

ost

alw

ays

My life iscommitted toJesus Christ

Spiritual Transcendence ScaleSpiritual Transcendence Scale

Measures ability to step outside of oneself and immediate Measures ability to step outside of oneself and immediate surroundings to view life on large scale, yielding three surroundings to view life on large scale, yielding three subscales: subscales: – ConnectednessConnectedness: assesses participants’ sense of community and : assesses participants’ sense of community and

relationships with othersrelationships with others I am concerned about those who will come after me in lifeI am concerned about those who will come after me in life

– Prayer FulfillmentPrayer Fulfillment: assesses participants’ prayer or meditation : assesses participants’ prayer or meditation experienceexperience

I have experienced deep fulfillment and bliss through my prayers or I have experienced deep fulfillment and bliss through my prayers or meditationsmeditations

– UniversalityUniversality: assesses participants’ sense of a greater meaning in life : assesses participants’ sense of a greater meaning in life I believe that death is a doorway to another plane of existenceI believe that death is a doorway to another plane of existence

Spiritual Transcendence Spiritual Transcendence ResponsesResponses

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Str

ongly

dis

agre

e

Dis

agre

e

Neutr

al

Agre

e

Str

ongly

agre

e

I find innerstrengthand peacefrom myprayers andmeditation

Additional ResultsAdditional Results Barrier Gender DifferencesBarrier Gender Differences

Faith Gender DifferencesFaith Gender Differences

Predictors of Life PurposePredictors of Life Purpose

Gender Differences: Gender Differences: Emotional BarriersEmotional Barriers

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Fear Emotional Problems Self-doubt

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Need to feel secure and safe Uncertain of what God wants

MalesFemales

Females perceive emotional barriers to life purpose at higher levels than males

Gender Differences: Social Gender Differences: Social Pressure BarriersPressure Barriers

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Financial debt Concerns about earning money

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

Gender stereotypes of society Pressure/desire to get married

Males

Females

Females perceive social barriers to life purpose at Females perceive social barriers to life purpose at higher levels than maleshigher levels than males

Gender Differences: Gender Differences: Faith VariablesFaith Variables

Females scored significantly higher on Faith Females scored significantly higher on Faith Maturity & Spiritual TranscendenceMaturity & Spiritual Transcendence

4

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

Faith Maturity

Males

Females

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

Spiritual Transcendence

Best Predictors of Life PurposeBest Predictors of Life Purpose

Faith Maturity Achieved Identity Status Emotional Barriers

Life Purpose

Lessons for Pepperdine Lessons for Pepperdine UniversityUniversity

Engender Faith Growth – Mentoring, Spiritual Nourishment, Engender Faith Growth – Mentoring, Spiritual Nourishment, Challenges to FaithChallenges to Faith

Promote Self-Discovery – leading to Achieved Identity – Promote Self-Discovery – leading to Achieved Identity –

Reflective Experiences – International Programs, Retreats, Club Reflective Experiences – International Programs, Retreats, Club ConvoConvo

Understand dynamics of gender, especially considering our Understand dynamics of gender, especially considering our 60/40 balance60/40 balance

Dr. Cindy Miller-PerrinDr. Cindy Miller-Perrin

Whitney GuthrieWhitney Guthrie

Katie ByronKatie Byron