Bridges and Barriers in the Development of Faith, Identity, Vocation, and Life Purpose

in College Students

Katie Byron, Whitney Guthrie, Cindy Miller-Perrin, and Don Thompson

Pepperdine University

ACSD Annual ConferenceJune 8, 2006

The Pepperdine Research Team

Katie Byron 2006 Psychology Graduate

Whitney Guthrie 2006 Psychology Graduate

Dr. Cindy Miller-Perrin Professor of Psychology

Dr. Don Thompson Associate Vice President

Presentation Overview

Development of faith, identity, and vocation across the undergraduate years

College seniors: Bridges and barriers to life purpose

Opportunities for influence and impact in the college environment

Lilly Endowment Sponsored Research at Pepperdine

2002-2006 Summary Student Development

Faith, Vocation, Identity Surveys & Interviews Autobiographical Writings Vocation Discussion Groups

Faculty Development Vocation Survey Vocation Workshops Autobiographical Writings Vocation Discussion Groups

Mission Fulfillment Life Purpose, Service, Leadership

Development of Faith, Identity, and Vocation Across the

Undergraduate Years

College years are “critical years” in development

College years marked by change in individual self and religious self

Vocational Development

College students consider issues associated with personal identity, faith beliefs, and career options

Higher education should help students discover and pursue their vocational callings

Little empirical work examines the nature and development of vocational calling

Research Hypotheses

Vocation is “the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet”

Vocational development is the intersection of faith development and identity development

Faith, identity, and vocational development are not uniform across the college years

Method

Participants (and Response Rates) from initial sample of 300 Baseline – 113 (38%) First-Year – 191 (68%) Sophomore – 111 (64%) Junior – 132 (83%) Senior – 114 (70%)

Overall Demographics 61% female; 39% male Age range 18-22 years (X= 20.64) 70% White; 7% Latino; 5% Asian; 3% Black; 15%

Other

Measures

Faith Attitudes and Behaviors

Vocational Discernment and Action

Barriers to Life Purpose

Faith Attitudes and Behaviors

Subscales Sample Items

Strength of Belief(alpha = .81)

•I view myself as a religious person.•I have doubts about whether my religious beliefs are true.

Faith Behavior(alpha = .88)

•How often do you attend religious services?•How often have you read a devotional, religious, or spiritual book in the last year?

Application of Faith(alpha = .90)

•I depend on my faith in God for decision-making and direction.•I try hard to carry my religious beliefs into all other dealings in my life.

Vocational Discernment and Action

Subscales Sample Items

Discernment and Purpose(alpha = .76)

•I have a good sense for my life purpose.•I know of the many ways that I can use my gifts and talents within the context of my professional career.•I am unsure about what God is specifically calling me to do.

Service to Others(alpha = .68)

•I am motivated to choose a career that will enable me to provide some type of service to others.•I feel a deep sense of responsibility for reducing pain and suffering in the world.

Vocational BarriersSubscales Barriers to life purpose

fulfillment

Personal Barriers(alpha = .84)

•Fear•Emotional Problems•Self-doubt•Lack of motivation

Interpersonal Barriers(alpha = .86)

•A parent•A friend•A boy/girl friend•A teacher or professor

Social and Cultural Barriers(alpha = .90)

•Lack of financial resources•Feeling pressure or a desire to get married•Feeling that my opportunities are limited by the gender stereotypes of society

Results

Faith Development

Identity Development

Vocation Discernment and Action

Development of Life Purpose Barriers

Strength of Belief, Faith Behavior, and Application of Faith

05

1015202530354045

Bas

elin

e

Fir

st Y

ear

So

ph

om

ore

Jun

ior

Sen

ior

Belief Strength

Behavior

Application

Strength of Belief varied significantly over time

Faith Behavior varied significantly over time

Application of Faith did not vary significantly over time

I believe in God.

0

0.5

11.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

44.5

5

Baseline First-Year Sophomore Junior Senior

My faith/religion is NOT very important to me.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Faith

Religion

I continually look for ways to strengthen my faith.

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

4

Baseline First-Year Sophomore Junior Senior

Identity Development - Achievement

Achieved Identity status varied significantly over time

272829303132333435

Ba

se

lin

e

Fir

st

Ye

ar

So

ph

om

ore

Ju

nio

r

Se

nio

r

Achievement

Identity Development – Moratorium

Moratorium Identity status varied over time, marginally

1818.5

1919.5

2020.5

2121.5

2222.5

23

Ba

se

line

Fir

st

Ye

ar

So

ph

om

ore

Ju

nio

r

Se

nio

r

Moratorium

Identity Development - Foreclosure

Foreclosure Identity status varied significantly over time

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Bas

elin

e

Fir

st Y

ear

So

ph

om

ore

Jun

ior

Sen

ior

Foreclosure

Identity Development - Diffused

Diffused Identity status did not vary significantly over time

16.5

17

17.5

18

18.5

19

19.5

Bas

elin

e

Fir

st Y

ear

So

ph

om

ore

Jun

ior

Sen

ior

Diffused

Vocational Discernment and Action

0

5

10

15

20

25

30B

asel

ineq

Fir

st Y

ear

So

ph

om

ore

Jun

ior

Sen

ior

Discernment

Service

Vocational Discernment did not vary significantly over time

Vocational Action, as service, did not vary significantly over time

I have a good sense of God’s purpose for my life.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Baseline First-Year Sophomore Junior Senior

I am unsure about what God is specifically calling me to do.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Baseline First-Year Sophomore Junior Senior

I am motivated to choose a career that will provide/fulfill…

00.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

Baseline

First-Year

Sophom

or

Junior

Senior

Financial

Personal

Service

Barriers to Life Purpose

20

21

22

23

24

25

26B

asel

ine

Fir

st Y

ear

So

ph

om

ore

Jun

ior

Sen

ior

Personal

Total Personal Barriers scores varied over time, marginally

Emotional problems prevent me from fulfilling my life purpose

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

Ba

se

line

Fir

st-

Ye

ar

So

ph

om

ore

Ju

nio

r

Se

nio

r

EmotionalProblems

Selfishness prevents me from fulfilling my life purpose

2.12.15

2.22.25

2.32.35

2.42.45

2.52.55

2.62.65

Ba

se

lin

e

Fir

st-

Ye

ar

So

ph

om

ore

Ju

nio

r

Se

nio

r

Selfishness

Need for personal control prevents me from fulfilling my life purpose

2.452.5

2.552.6

2.652.7

2.752.8

2.852.9

2.953

Bas

elin

e

Fir

st-Y

ear

So

ph

om

ore

Jun

ior

Sen

ior

PersonalControl

Barriers to Life Purpose

8.68.78.88.9

99.19.29.39.49.59.6

Ba

se

lin

e

Fir

st

Ye

ar

So

ph

om

ore

Ju

nio

r

Se

nio

r

Interpersonal

Total Interpersonal Barriers scores did not vary significantly over time

Barriers to Life Purpose

11.5

12

12.5

13

13.5

14

14.5B

asel

ine

Fir

st Y

ear

So

ph

om

ore

Jun

ior

Sen

ior

Social &Cultural

Total Social and Cultural Barriers scores did not vary significantly over time

Conclusions

College students experience significant developmental variation over time Strength of faith belief Faith behavior Identity development

Foreclosure, Moratorium, Achievement

Personal Barriers

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

College Seniors

Emergence of Positive Psychology

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

Positive Psychology explores individual health and well-being

Life Purpose

Life purpose is a popular area of research within Positive Psychology

Life purpose is linked to well-being

Life purpose is a core element in many university mission statements

What Contributes to Life Purpose?

Faith Religion is one context in which we encounter commitment

to an ultimate concern or purpose Identity

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

Faith and Life Purpose Bridges

Religious conversion Life purpose evolves following conversion: euphoria, doubt, renewed strength

and stability Core experiences

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

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

imago dei, contribute to life purpose Mysticism

Strong emotional religious experience accompanies a strong sense of life purpose

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

impact life direction or purpose

Identity and Life Purpose Bridges

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

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

Development of life purpose helps to resolve identity crises

Life Purpose Barriers

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

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

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

Hypotheses – Bridges & Barriers to Life Purpose

Faith development and identity achievement positively predict life purpose

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

Participants

89 undergraduates (mean age = 21.53) 60% female, 40% male 67% White, 6% Asian, 6% Latino, 10% Multiracial/Other 64% Protestant, 14% Catholic, 2% Jewish, 1% Hindu, 18% Other/None All participants were seniors at a Christian university Students were selected from the 2002 entering class to participate in a

longitudinal survey on faith, identity, and vocation. This study included 89 of these participants who responded to two separate surveys given during their senior year

Measures & Scales

General Life Purpose Scale Life Purpose Barriers Scale Identity Scale

Ego-Identity Status Faith Scales

Faith Maturity Spiritual Transcendence

General Life Purpose Scale Designed to measure overall sense of life purpose

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

General Life Purpose Responses

010

20

3040

50

60

7080

Dis

agre

e

Neutr

al

Agre

e

I have a goodsense ofpurpose in life

Life Purpose Barriers Scale

Measures factors that can prevent individuals from fulfilling their life purpose

Yields scores on three subscales: Personality or personal emotions

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

Parents, boyfriend or girlfriend, teachers Social pressures or personal circumstances

Financial debt, feeling limited by gender stereotypes

Life Purpose Barriers Responses

05

1015202530

3540

Not

at

all

A lit

tle

Som

e

Much

Very

much

Need forcontrol

Life Purpose Barriers Responses

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Not

at a

ll

A lit

tle

Som

e

Much

Ver

ym

uch

Desire forcertainty

Ego-Identity Status Survey Classifies subjects into one of four identity groups:

Achievement: exploration and commitment “It took me a while to figure it out, but now I really know what I want for a

career.” Moratorium: exploration without commitment

“Religion is confusing to me right now. I keep changing my views on what is right and wrong for me.”

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

employment and I’m following through with their plans.” Diffusion: no exploration or commitment

“I haven’t really considered politics. It just doesn’t excite me much.”

Ego-Identity Status Responses

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Ach

ieved

Mora

tori

um

Fore

close

d

Diff

use

d

IdentityStatus

Faith Maturity Scale

Measures values and behavioral manifestations of faith

Sample items My life is filled with meaning and purpose I have a real sense that God is guiding me My faith shapes how I think and act each and every day I devote time to reading and studying the Bible

Faith 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 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 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 Scale

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

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

Prayer Fulfillment: assesses participants’ prayer or meditation experience

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

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

Spiritual Transcendence Responses

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 Results Barrier Gender Differences

Faith Gender Differences

Predictors of Life Purpose

Gender Differences: Personal 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 personal barriers to life purpose at higher levels than males

Gender Differences: Social Pressure 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 pressure barriers to life purpose at higher levels than males

Gender Differences: Faith Variables

Females scored significantly higher on Faith Maturity & 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 Purpose

Faith Maturity Achieved Identity Status Personal Barriers

Life Purpose

Conclusions

College students experience significant variation in identity, faith, and life purpose development over time The sophomore year is a particularly critical

milestone Barriers to development differ

significantly by gender Females demonstrate greater faith

maturity and spirituality than males Faith maturity, achieved identity, and

personal barriers are optimal predictors of life purpose

Lessons & Opportunities for Nurturing Student Development at Christian

Universities

Engender faith growth – mentoring, spiritual nourishment, challenges

Promote self-discovery – leading to achieved identity – reflective experiences – summation as well as formation

Respect the barriers Understand dynamics of gender Capitalize on opportunities for impact in the sophomore

year