Bridges and Barriers
in the Development of Faith,
Identity, and Life Purpose in
College Seniors
Katie Byron
Whitney Guthrie
Cindy Miller-Perrin
Don Thompson
June 13, 2006
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 part of Pepperdine University’s
Mission
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 Pepperdine University
Students were selected from the 2002 entering class to
participate in a longitudinal survey on faith, identity, and
vocation. The current 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

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
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

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
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:
Emotional Barriers

Females perceive emotional 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
Males
Females
2
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 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
90
4.3
Females
88
4.2
86
4.1
84
4
Faith Maturity
82
80
78
76
74
72
Spiritual Transcendence
Best Predictors of Life Purpose
Faith Maturity
Achieved Identity Status
Life Purpose
Emotional Barriers
Lessons for Pepperdine
University

Engender Faith Growth – Mentoring, Spiritual
Nourishment, Challenges to Faith

Promote Self-Discovery – leading to Achieved
Identity – Reflective Experiences – International
Programs, Retreats, Club Convo

Understand dynamics of gender, especially
considering our 60/40 balance
Dr. Cindy Miller-Perrin
Whitney Guthrie
Katie Byron