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 Conference
June 8, 2006
The Pepperdine Research Team

Katie Byron


Whitney Guthrie


2006 Psychology Graduate
Dr. Cindy Miller-Perrin


2006 Psychology Graduate
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




Faculty Development





Faith, Vocation, Identity Surveys & Interviews
Autobiographical Writings
Vocation Discussion Groups
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
•I
(alpha = .81)
Faith Behavior
(alpha = .88)
Application of Faith
(alpha = .90)
view myself as a religious person.
•I have doubts about whether my
religious beliefs are true.
•How
often do you attend religious
services?
•How often have you read a devotional,
religious, or spiritual book in the last
year?
•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
•I
(alpha = .76)
Service to Others
(alpha = .68)
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.
•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 Barriers
Subscales
Barriers to life purpose
fulfillment
Personal
Barriers
•Fear
(alpha = .84)
•Lack
Interpersonal
Barriers
•A
(alpha = .86)
Social and
Cultural Barriers
(alpha = .90)
•Emotional
Problems
•Self-doubt
of motivation
parent
•A friend
•A boy/girl friend
•A teacher or professor
•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

Belief Strength
Behavior

Application
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
First Year

Baseline
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
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.
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Baseline
First-Year Sophomore
Junior
Senior
My faith/religion is NOT very
important to me.
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
Faith
2.5
Religion
2
1.5
1
0.5
Se
ni
or
Ju
ni
or
Fi
rs
t-Y
ea
r
So
ph
om
or
e
Ba
se
lin
e
0
I continually look for ways to
strengthen my faith.
4
3.9
3.8
3.7
3.6
3.5
3.4
3.3
3.2
Baseline
First-Year Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Senior
Junior
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
Sophomore
Achieved
Identity
status
varied
significantly
over time
First Year

Baseline
Identity Development - Achievement
Achievement
Senior
Junior
23
22.5
22
21.5
21
20.5
20
19.5
19
18.5
18
Sophomore
Moratorium
Identity
status varied
over time,
marginally
First Year

Baseline
Identity Development – Moratorium
Moratorium
Identity Development - Foreclosure
30
25
20
15
10
Foreclosure
Senior
Junior
0
Sophomore
5
First Year
Foreclosure
Identity
status varied
significantly
over time
Baseline

Identity Development - Diffused
19.5
19
18.5
18
17.5
Senior
Junior
16.5
Sophomore
17
First Year
Diffused
Identity
status did
not vary
significantly
over time
Baseline

Diffused
Vocational Discernment and Action
30

25
20
15
Discernment
10
Service

Senior
Junior
Sophomore
First Year
0
Baselineq
5
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.
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Baseline
First-Year Sophomore
Junior
Senior
I am unsure about what God is
specifically calling me to do.
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Baseline
First-Year
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
I am motivated to choose a career
that will provide/fulfill…
Financial
Personal
Senior
Junior
Sophomor
First-Year
Service
Baseline
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Barriers to Life Purpose
26

25
24
23
Total Personal
Barriers scores
varied over time,
marginally
22
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
First Year
20
Baseline
21
Personal
Emotional problems prevent me from
fulfilling my life purpose
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
First-Year
Emotional
Problems
Baseline
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Selfishness prevents me from fulfilling
my life purpose
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
First-Year
Selfishness
Baseline
2.65
2.6
2.55
2.5
2.45
2.4
2.35
2.3
2.25
2.2
2.15
2.1
Need for personal control prevents me
from fulfilling my life purpose
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
First-Year
Personal
Control
Baseline
3
2.95
2.9
2.85
2.8
2.75
2.7
2.65
2.6
2.55
2.5
2.45
Barriers to Life Purpose
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
First Year

Baseline
9.6
9.5
9.4
9.3
9.2
9.1
9
8.9
8.8
8.7
8.6
Total Interpersonal
Barriers scores did
not vary
significantly over
time
Interpersonal
Barriers to Life Purpose
14.5

14
13.5
13
12.5
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
First Year
11.5
Baseline
12
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


Core experiences


Sacred goals that aim for meaningful life objectives, pertaining to a person’s
imago dei, contribute to life purpose
Mysticism


Experiences of feeling close with God, including the perception that God dwells
within, engender a sense of life purpose
Spiritual strivings


Life purpose evolves following conversion: euphoria, doubt, renewed strength
and stability
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
Agree
Neutral
I have a good
sense of
purpose in life
Disagree
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Life Purpose Barriers Scale


Measures factors that can prevent individuals from
fulfilling their life purpose
Yields scores on three subscales:

Personality or personal emotions


Views and opinions of others


Lack of motivation, fear, being uncertain of what God wants
Parents, boyfriend or girlfriend, teachers
Social pressures or personal circumstances

Financial debt, feeling limited by gender stereotypes
Life Purpose Barriers Responses
Very
much
Much
Some
A little
Need for
control
Not at all
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Life Purpose Barriers Responses
35
30
25
20
15
Desire for
certainty
10
Very
much
Much
Some
A little
0
Not at all
5
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
30
25
20
15
Identity
Status
10
Diffused
Foreclosed
Moratorium
0
Achieved
5
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
30
25
My faith
shapes
how I
think
and act
20
15
10
Almost
always
Often
Sometimes
Once in a
while
0
Never or
rarely
5
Faith Maturity Responses
Almost
always
Often
Sometimes
Once in a
while
I devote time to
reading and
studying the Bible
Never or
rarely
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Faith Maturity Responses
Almost
always
Often
Sometimes
Once in
while
My life is
committed to
Jesus Christ
Never or
rarely
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
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


Prayer Fulfillment: assesses participants’ prayer or meditation
experience


I am concerned about those who will come after me in life
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
35
30
25
I find inner
strength
and peace
from my
prayers and
meditation
20
15
10
Strongly
agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
0
Strongly
disagree
5
Additional Results

Barrier Gender Differences

Faith Gender Differences

Predictors of Life Purpose
Gender Differences:
Personal Barriers

Females perceive personal barriers to life purpose at
higher levels than males
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Fear
Emotional Problems
Self-doubt
3.5
3
2.5
2
Males
Females
1.5
1
0.5
0
Need to feel secure and safe
Uncertain of what God wants
Gender Differences: Social Pressure Barriers

Females perceive social pressure barriers to life purpose
at higher levels than males
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Financial debt
Concerns about earning money
2.5
2
Males
1.5
Females
1
0.5
0
Gender stereotypes of society
Pressure/desire to get married
Gender Differences:
Faith Variables

Females scored significantly higher on Faith Maturity &
Spiritual Transcendence
4.7
4.6
4.5
4.4
Males
4.3
Females
4.2
88
86
4.1
4
90
84
Faith Maturity
82
80
78
76
74
72
Spiritual Transcendence
Best Predictors of Life Purpose
Faith Maturity
Achieved Identity Status
Life Purpose
Personal Barriers
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