Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

College

College of Education and International Services

Program

Higher Education Administration PhD

First Advisor

Gustavo Gregorutti

Second Advisor

Karla Basurto-Gutierrez

Third Advisor

Sharon Aka

Abstract

Problem

Several studies have examined the prediction of calling in college students, but no known study has focused primarily on the development of vocational calling among the vulnerable population of first-generation college students who have a higher drop-out rate than their peers. Examining the composition of vocational calling in first-generation college students, will assist faculty and student development personnel in better understanding the factors that predict a sense of calling for these students, which will improve their overall performance. This study will examine to what extent a sense of vocational calling is predicted by student mentoring, social support, faith/spirituality, civic engagement, values, social readjustment, self-efficacy, self-authorship, and a set of demographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity, class standing, religious affiliation, and primary source of funding for college) for first-generation college students. Additionally, based on theories and relevant empirical research, a construct was tested by mediation models, in which self-authorship and civic engagement were mediators in the relationship between self-efficacy and sense of calling.

Method

First-generation college students at the thirteen member institutions that comprise the Adventist Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) completed a 76-item survey to ascertain to what extent the factors of student mentoring, social support, faith/spirituality, civic engagement, values, social readjustment, self-efficacy, self-authorship, and demographic variables predict sense of calling. This was a quantitative, cross-sectional, and predictive/correlational study. Descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis were utilized to analyze the data. Path analysis was also used to test the hypothesized model to ascertain the estimated direct, indirect, and total causal effect among the variables that best predicted a sense of vocational calling.

Results

Based on Haworth, McCruden, and Roy's (2001) vocational calling model which this study tested, the findings indicated that sense of calling was positively predicted by encounters with other (civic engagement), interpersonal relationships (friends support), developmental issues (self-authorship), and self-awareness (self-efficacy). The model explained 42.5% of the variance in sense of calling. Additionally, the demographic variables of certain age groupings (24-29, 30-39, and 40-55) and certain primary sources 40-55) and certain primary sources of funding for college (parental, personal savings, and state and federal loans) were predictors of sense of calling. The model containing the demographic variables explained 25.7% of the variance in sense of calling. Regarding mediation, it was observed that self-efficacy had a direct effect on calling (ℽ = .28), selfefficacy had a direct effect on self-authorship (ℽ = .57), and civic engagement had a direct effect on calling (ℽ = .39). Self-authorship had a direct effect on calling (ℽ = .19) and civic engagement on calling (ℽ = .31). The indirect effect of self-efficacy and calling with the mediation of self-authorship was (ℽ = .173; lower bound .071, upper bound .297 p = .006). The indirect effect of self-efficacy and calling with the mediation of civic engagement was (ℽ = .190; lower bound .102, upper bound .303 and a p=.001). The theoretical covariance matrix and the empirical covariance matrix were equal.

Conclusion

Based on Haworth et al. (2001) vocational calling model, the factors that best predict vocational calling in first-generation college students at AACU member institutions include civic engagement, friends support, self-authorship, and self-efficacy. The demographic variables of age and primary sources of funding for college also contributed to the development of vocational calling. The current study also provides an accepted hypothesized model that outlines the estimated direct, indirect, and total causal effect among self-efficacy, self-authorship, and civic engagement in sense of vocational calling. Implications for fostering the development of vocational calling in first-generation students for student services professionals and faculty were discussed.

Subject Area

First-generation college students; Vocation; Occupations; Professions

Additional Files
Palmer_Rodney_Anthony_Agreement.pdf (253 kB)
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