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