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College as a Growth Opportunity: Assessing Personal Growth Initiative and Self-determination Theory

Author

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  • Ingrid K. Weigold

    (The University of Akron)

  • Arne Weigold

    (Kent State University at Geauga)

  • Shu Ling

    (The University of Akron)

  • Migyeong Jang

    (The University of Akron)

Abstract

Although college presents a time for personal and vocational development, little research has examined individuals’ intentional use of college as a growth opportunity. Consequently, the current study assessed relationships among personal growth initiative (an individual’s active desire to grow in personally relevant domains), basic needs satisfaction at college, and positive outcomes in samples of students from a large, public, predominantly White institution (n = 818) and a small, private, minority-majority college (n = 195). Using structural equation modeling, we examined a hypothesized model in which personal growth initiative was indirectly related to the two outcomes (psychological well-being and vocational commitment) through the satisfaction of the basic needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness; this was compared to a reverse model. The hypothesized model was a better fit for the data in the university sample, and both models had similar fit for the college sample. Tests of indirect effects using the hypothesized model showed evidence of mediation, with similarities and differences between the samples. Finally, the two models were invariant across institutions at the structural level. PGI and basic needs satisfaction explained over half of the variance in psychological well-being and approximately one-quarter of the variance in vocational commitment in both samples.

Suggested Citation

  • Ingrid K. Weigold & Arne Weigold & Shu Ling & Migyeong Jang, 2021. "College as a Growth Opportunity: Assessing Personal Growth Initiative and Self-determination Theory," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 2143-2163, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:22:y:2021:i:5:d:10.1007_s10902-020-00312-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-020-00312-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Celinda Stevic & Rose Ward, 2008. "Initiating Personal Growth: The Role of Recognition and Life Satisfaction on the Development of College Students," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 89(3), pages 523-534, December.
    2. Paul D. Umbach & George D. Kuh, 2006. "Student Experiences with Diversity at Liberal Arts Colleges: Another Claim for Distinctiveness," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 77(1), pages 169-192, January.
    3. Richard M. Ryan & Veronika Huta & Edward Deci, 2008. "Living well: a self-determination theory perspective on eudaimonia," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 139-170, January.
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