Sense of Purpose in Life Predicts University Performance and Attrition
Individual differences are important predictors of academic success. A sense of purpose in life is gaining increasing attention as a key individual difference factor to foster in university students. The current study examined whether a sense of purpose in life, a dispositional tendency to pursue go...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Southern Queensland
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Student Success |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://studentsuccessjournal.org/index.php/studentsuccess/article/view/3612 |
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| Summary: | Individual differences are important predictors of academic success. A sense of purpose in life is gaining increasing attention as a key individual difference factor to foster in university students. The current study examined whether a sense of purpose in life, a dispositional tendency to pursue goals and activities in line with one’s overarching life direction, predicted better academic success across several years of university. Students (n = 769) at a large, U.S. public university were asked to complete a baseline survey in the summer prior to entering university, which included measures for a sense of purpose and background characteristics. Students were then followed throughout their first three years of university. Results demonstrated that higher levels of purpose were associated with a higher grade point average (GPA), more credits earned, less credits dropped, and an increased odds of persisting through the first three years of university. A sense of purpose also appeared to buffer the negative effect of low entrance scores on university GPA. These findings support cultivating a strong sense of purpose prior to entering university as an effective means of improving a variety of academic outcomes. |
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| ISSN: | 2205-0795 |