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The Development of Life Purpose in Pepperdine University Undergraduates

The Development of Life Purpose in Pepperdine University Undergraduates. Cindy Miller-Perrin Don Thompson Pepperdine University Faculty Conference October 5, 2007. Research Hypotheses.

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The Development of Life Purpose in Pepperdine University Undergraduates

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  1. The Development of Life Purpose in Pepperdine University Undergraduates Cindy Miller-Perrin Don Thompson Pepperdine University Faculty ConferenceOctober 5, 2007

  2. Research Hypotheses • The college years are a critical time for the development of faith, identity, and one’s sense of life purpose • The development of life purpose is related to: • Faith • Identity • Life Purpose Barriers • Additional variables examined: • Gender • International Experience

  3. Research Methodologies • Longitudinal Design • Undergraduates surveyed at baseline and every spring semester of college career • Senior Sample • Seniors who participated in longitudinal study plus random sample of seniors not previously surveyed

  4. Survey Instruments • Faith and Spirituality • Identity • Life Purpose • Life Purpose Barriers

  5. Faith and Spirituality

  6. Ego-Identity Status • Measures identity along four dimensions: • Diffusion: no exploration or commitment • “I haven’t really considered politics. It just doesn’t excite me much.” • 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.” • Moratorium: exploration without commitment • “Religion is confusing to me right now. I keep changing my views on what is right and wrong for me.” • Achievement: exploration and commitment • “It took me a while to figure it out, but now I really know what I want for a career.”

  7. Life Purpose: Discernment and Action Through Service

  8. Life Purpose Barriers

  9. Longitudinal Participants • Response Rates from initial sample of 300 • Baseline – 38% • First-Year – 68% • Sophomore – 64% • Junior – 83% • Senior – 70% • Overall Demographics • 60% female; 40% male • 70% White; 7% Latino; 5% Asian; 3% Black; 15% Other

  10. Strength of Belief, Faith Behavior, and Application of Faith

  11. My faith/religion is NOT very important to me.

  12. Identity Development

  13. Life Purpose Barriers

  14. Correlations Between Faith and Life Purpose Measures

  15. Correlations Between Identity and Life Purpose Measures

  16. Additional Factors that Contribute to the Development of Life Purpose Gender International Experiences

  17. Gender Differences Related to Faith, Identity, and Life Purpose

  18. Senior Participants • Sample of senior undergraduates • Sample size = 283 • 56% female, 44% male • 64% White, 10% Asian, 7% Black, 10% Latino, 9% Multiracial/Other

  19. Females Score Significantly Higher on Nearly All Measures of Faith and Life Purpose

  20. Gender Differences in Perceptions of Personal and Sociocultural Barriers

  21. Predictors of Life Purpose: Females Achieved Identity Personal Barriers Moratorium Identity Faith Maturity Life Purpose

  22. Predictors of Life Purpose: Males Achieved Identity Life Purpose

  23. International Program Experience at Seaver College • Provide students a life changing international experience designed for intellectual, social, personal and spiritual transformation.

  24. Senior and Longitudinal Samples • Senior Sample • IP Group = 133 seniors who participated in an International Program • No IP Group = 150 seniors who did not participate in an International Program • No significant differences between groups on demographic variables (e.g., age, ethnicity, faith tradition, gender, & socioeconomic status) • Longitudinal Sample • Analyzed sub sample matched on age and sex • IP Group = 43 students who attended an international program during their sophomore year • No IP Group = 43 students who did not attend an international program • Examined first-year versus senior year

  25. Senior Sample: Faith Attitudes and Behaviors

  26. Senior Sample: Life Purpose Scores

  27. Strength of Belief Scores for First-Year and Senior Time Periods

  28. Faith Application Scores for First-Year and Senior Time Periods

  29. Life Purpose Discernment Scores for First-Year and Senior Time Periods

  30. Life Purpose Service Scores for First-Year and Senior Time Periods

  31. Developmental Changes Strength of Faith, Faith Behaviors, and Identity Status vary over time Personal Barriers increase over time Sophomore year appears to be critical Faith and Identity are Related to Life Purpose Across the College Years Gender Differences Females demonstrate greater faith maturity and spirituality, sense of life purpose, and perceptions of personal and sociocultural barriers than males Best predictors of life purpose vary by gender International Living and Learning Experiences associated with increased faith, spirituality, and sense of life purpose Conclusions

  32. Recommendations • Helping Students Discover Their Life Purpose • Encourage Questioning of Life Assumptions • Introduce students to experiences outside comfort zone – e.g. Service Learning Experiences; Fieldtrips • Expect Identity and Faith Crises • Tolerate discomfort; provide confidence and hope • Consider Gender • Perceptions and influences differ • Provide support as students explore and make value/faith commitments • Facilitate communities of mutual dependency and trust. • Provide mentoring: opportunities for the mentor-protégé connection.

  33. cperrin@pepperdine.eduthompson@pepperdine.edu

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