Social Support and a Sense of Purpose: The Role of Personal Growth Initiative and Academic Self-Efficacy

Objective: Studies have consistently found a positive relationship between social support and a sense of purpose; however, less is known about the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. The present study bridges this gap by proposing and testing a path model illustrating the mediating effects of personal growth initiative and academic self-efficacy on the linkage between social support and a sense of purpose.Method: A total of 2,085 Chinese college students completed the revised versions of the Social Support, Personal Growth Initiative, Academic Self-Efficacy, and Sense of Purpose Scales.Results: The results show that social support, personal growth initiative, and academic self-efficacy were all significantly associated with a sense of purpose. As predicted, personal growth initiative and academic self-efficacy mediated the relationship between social support and a sense of purpose, respectively. The results also support the hypothesized serial mediating effect.Conclusion: Individuals who feel more social support have a higher level of personal growth initiative, their academic self-efficacy is stronger, and their academic self-efficacy further enhances their sense of purpose. Additionally, comparisons among the three indirect effects indicated that the effect of personal growth initiative was significantly greater than those of the other two measures. Thus, it can be concluded that personal initiative plays a greater role in enhancing a sense of purpose. These findings not only help to understand how social support enhances the sense of purpose, but also provide insight into the underlying mechanism.

Personal skills for optimal identity development: A person-centered approach in Italian late-adolescents.

The present study examined the association between identity statuses and some competences such as creativity, personal growth initiative and agency, which can actually be considered as resources for the development of optimal identity in our de-standardized society (personal skills for optimal identity development, PSID). Participants were 250 adolescents (118 males and 132 females) attending the last two years of various high schools in Italy. We used five self-report measures of identity development, agency, creativity, and personal growth initiative, and specific psychosocial correlates (anxiety, depression and well-being) to examine the association between identity, PSID and both well- and ill-being. Based on a person- centered approach, five typologies were obtained in order to describe the differentiated interplay between identity and PSID. Our findings suggested that late adolescents showing medium/high levels of PSID seem to be more advanced in their identity definition; as a result, they show positive psycho-social functioning, supporting the hypothesis that PSID can allow the acquisition of optimal identity. Suggestions for developing interventions to foster personal resources in this age group are discussed.

Personal Growth Initiative and Self-Regulated Learning in Students with Low Intelligence Potential

Students with low intelligence potential, have limitations in academic matters. Unlike students with average intelligence, students with low intelligence will find difficulties in completing their academic tasks. Frequently, when their intelligence potentials have not been identified and are included in a regular class, they have to meet the same demands with other students who have normal/average intelligence. Therefore, they struggle to complete the given academic tasks. Their efforts to manage thoughts, feelings and behavior to achieve goals are called Self Regulated Learning (SRL). This study aims to determine the relationship of Personal Growth Initiative (PGI) and Self Regulated Learning in students with low intelligence potential. The research method used is quantitative correlational. The data collection tool used is the PGI and SRL Likert scale; the results of the filling scale are analyzed by product moment correlation statistical techniques. The results show a positive relationship between PGI and SRL (r = 0.677, sig. 0.032) with a contribution of 45.8%. The implication that can be drawn from this research is that it provides proper psychological treatment to students with low intelligence potential so that they can stay motivated in learning process.

Effect of Self-Esteem and Gratitude on Personal Growth in Indian Students

It is known that self esteem and gratitude play a pivotal role in the development of an individual. The purpose of this study was to find out about the exact role that self esteem and gratitude play in the development of Indian students of 16 to 24 years. Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, Gratitude Questionnaire and Personal Growth Initiative Scale were administered on the participants who were selected for the study by the method of random sampling. Data was collected with the help of google forms as personally meeting the subjects was not possible during the pandemic. Findings suggests that most participants who participated in the study possessed high levels of gratitude and moderate levels of self esteem, thus showing good personal development. It was believed that increment in self esteem leads to the increment in overall personal development of a person, but in this research, it came out that rise in self esteem up to a certain level can positively impact personal development, more than that can create a negative impact on the development. It was also found out that gratitude and personal development were positively correlated to each other, i.e., rise in levels of gratitude leads to increment in personal growth of students.

Possible Selves in Emerging Adulthood: A Comparison of Two Group Interventions

The present study provides a pilot examination of two types of possible selves group interventions. The study evaluates emerging adults’ satisfaction with and outcome following participation in groups that were oriented on interpersonal-experiential and didactic-task interventions and that focused on possible selves. Analyses used data from 85 emerging adults who were randomly assigned to one of these intervention types and who completed pre- and post-intervention assessments. Overall, participants indicated a high level of satisfaction with both types of group intervention. Results indicate that significant improvement in personal growth initiative was achieved across both interventions, but only the interpersonal-experiential intervention was associated with an increase in participants’ efficacy to pursue relational possible selves. Change in hope across both interventions was not statistically significant, and participants did not improve in their efficacy to pursue vocational possible selves. Follow-up analysis found that group engagement was associated with improvement in participants’ efficacy to pursue relational possible selves through interpersonal-experiential intervention. While both interventions appear to be beneficial, interpersonal-experiential groups may be particularly useful in fostering emerging adults’ sense of future relational selves.

Active emotions and personal growth initiative fuel employees’ daily job crafting: A multilevel study

In this study, we expand on the existing work on job crafting by focusing on (1) within-person fluctuation in affective experiences in relation to job crafting and person-job fit and (2) between-person fluctuations in personal growth initiative (PGI) as an important boundary condition of these relationships. Using multilevel data from 116 employees (341 observations), our results showed that fluctuations in positive active emotions (PAE) and negative active emotions (NAE) related positively to daily job crafting; this relationship was moderated by overall PGI levels. Next, we found a positive association between daily job crafting and daily person-job fit. Finally, we found indirect effects from NAE and PGI to daily fluctuations in person-job fit via daily fluctuations in job crafting; NAE and PGI energized employees to engage in daily job crafting, which contributed to their daily person-job alignment. We discuss implications for theory and practice. JEL CLASSIFICATION: M0