The Development of Life Purpose in

Pepperdine University Undergraduates

Cindy Miller-PerrinDon Thompson

Pepperdine University Faculty ConferenceOctober 5, 2007

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

Research Methodologies

Longitudinal DesignUndergraduates 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

Survey Instruments

Faith and Spirituality Identity Life Purpose Life Purpose Barriers

Faith and SpiritualitySubscales Sample ItemsStrength of Belief (alpha = .81)

• I believe in God.

Faith Behavior(alpha = .88)

• 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.

Faith Maturity(alpha = .91)

• My faith shapes how I think and act each and every day.

Spiritual Transcendence(alpha = .89)

• I believe death is a doorway to another plane of existence

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.”

Life Purpose: Discernment and Action Through Service

Subscales Sample Items

Discernment(alpha = .83)

•I have a good sense of my purpose in life.•I know of the many ways that I can use my gifts and talents within the context of my professional career.•I have a good sense of God’s purpose for my life.

Action Through Service(alpha = .70)

•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.

Life Purpose Barriers

Subscales Barriers to Life Purpose

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

Longitudinal Participants

Response Rates from initial sample of 300 Baseline – 38% First-Year – 68% Sophomore – 64% Junior – 83% Senior – 70%

Overall Demographics60% female; 40% male70% White; 7% Latino; 5% Asian; 3% Black;

15% Other

Strength of Belief, Faith Behavior, and Application of Faith

05

1015202530354045

Baselin

e

First Y

ear

Sophomore

Junio

r

Senio

r

Belief Strength*

Behavior*

Application

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

Baseli

ne

First-Y

ear

Sophom

ore

Junior

Senior

Faith

Religion

Identity Development

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Baseline First-Year Sophomore Junior Senior

Diffusion

Foreclosure*

Moratorium*

Achievement*

Life Purpose Barriers

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Baseli

ne

Firs

t-Yea

r

Sopho

mor

e

Junio

r

Senio

r

Personal*

Interpersonal

Social & Cultural

Correlations Between Faith and Life Purpose Measures

FaithMaturity

SpiritTranscend

FaithBehavior

Faith Application

Belief

ServiceFaithMaturity

SpiritTranscend

FaithApplication

Belief

Discernment

Correlations Between Identity and Life Purpose Measures

Life Purpose: Discernment and Service

Diffusion Achievement

Moratorium

Additional Factors that Contribute to the Development of Life Purpose

Gender

International Experiences

Gender Differences Related to Faith, Identity, and Life Purpose

Senior Participants

Sample of senior undergraduates Sample size = 28356% female, 44% male64% White, 10% Asian, 7% Black, 10% Latino, 9%

Multiracial/Other

Females Score Significantly Higher on Nearly All Measures of

Faith and Life PurposeFaith Maturity Spiritual

Transcendence

Strength of Belief Faith Application

Faith Behavior Life Purpose as Service

Gender Differences in Perceptions of Personal and Sociocultural

Barriers

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Personal Barriers* Sociocultural Barriers*

Males

Females

Predictors of Life Purpose: Females

Faith Maturity

Achieved Identity

Moratorium Identity

Life Purpose

Personal Barriers

Predictors of Life Purpose: Males

Achieved Identity

Life Purpose

International Program Experience at Seaver College

Provide students a life changing international experience designed for intellectual, social, personal and spiritual transformation.

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

Senior Sample: Faith Attitudes and Behaviors

2022242628303234363840

Strength of Belief Faith Application** Faith Behavior*

IPNo IP

Senior Sample: Life Purpose Scores

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Discernment Service*

IPNo IP

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

32

32.5

33

33.5

34

34.5

35

35.5

36

First-Year Senior Year

IPNo IP

Faith Application Scores for First-Year and Senior Time Periods

21

21.5

22

22.5

23

23.5

24

First-Year Senior Year

IPNo IP

Life Purpose Discernment Scores for First-Year and Senior Time

Periods

20.5

21

21.5

22

22.5

23

23.5

24

First-Year Senior Year

IPNo IP

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

18.5

19

19.5

20

20.5

21

21.5

22

22.5

First-Year Senior Year

IPNo IP

Conclusions 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

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.

cperrin@pepperdine.edu

thompson@pepperdine.edu