Seaver Undergraduate Survey on Faith and Vocation Insights

Seaver Undergraduate Survey on Faith and Vocation 2011-2014 Cindy Miller-Perrin and Don Thompson University Spiritual Life Committee March 7, 2016

Sample Characteristics Student survey data from 2011-2014, including participants who completed the survey during their first and third years Sample size: 250; Ages: 18: 57%, 19: 41%, 20+: 2% Gender: 35% male, 64% female; International Students 9.9% (%) African-American 4.7, Asian-American 9.1, Asian 15.5, Caucasion 50, American Indian 1.7, Native Hawaiian 0.9, Multiracial 8.6, Other 1.7 (%) Agnostic 5.6, Atheist 3, Buddhist 1.3, Catholic 22, Hindu 0.4, Jewish 0.9, Muslim 0.4, Protestant 42.7, Other 23.3

Faith and Spirituality I continually look for ways to strengthen my faith. I look to God for strength, support, and guidance. I believe in God. Most of the time, I feel close to God.

Mature Faith Index My faith helps me know right from wrong. I take time for periods of prayer or meditation. Every day I see evidence that God is active in the world. As I grow older, my understanding of God changes.

College Student Faith Behaviors How often do you attend religious services? How often have you read the Bible in the last year? How often have you engaged in community service over the past year? How often do you read devotional, religious, or spiritual material other than the Bible?

Spiritual Struggles Wondering whether God has abandoned me Questioning the teachings of my faith I argue with my parents because of religious beliefs. I am frustrated with God.

Understanding of Vocation Vocation is one s job or career My definition of vocation is based on my religious faith Vocation is one s life purpose. Vocation is a holy sacrament, like communion, confession or baptism.

Vocational Discernment and Action I do not spend much time contemplating my vocation I am confident that I am living out my vocation calling I feel a great sense of passion for the topics covered in my major.

General Life Purpose I have goals that I am working towards I know how I should be using my gifts and talents Everyday is new to me I make a difference in the lives of those around me

Personal Barriers My need for personal control over my life Being uncertain of what God wants for me Lack of motivation Selfishness

Interpersonal Barriers Boyfriend or girlfriend Parents Teacher or professor A family friend

Sociocultural Barriers Lack of financial resources Feeling pressure or a desire to get married Feeling that opportunities are limited by gender stereotypes of my friends. Financial debt

Wellness I am always optimistic about my future In general, I feel confident about my abilities My life has often seemed devoid of positive mental stimulation. I expect always to be physically healthy.

Time Differences: Mature Faith Index 165.8 165.6 165.4 165.2 165 164.8 164.6 164.4 164.2 164 163.8 Time 1 Time 2

Time Differences: College Student Behaviors 58 57.5 57 56.5 56 55.5 55 54.5 Time 1 Time 2

Time Differences: Divine Struggles 12 11.8 11.6 11.4 11.2 11 10.8 Time 1 Time 2

Total Sample Correlations Mature Faith Index Faith/ Spiritual Faith Behaviors Understand Vocation Discern/ Acton Life Purpose Personal Barriers Interperson Barriers Sociocult Barriers Wellness Faith/ Spiritual .787** .800** .511** .405** .405** 1 .118 -.019 -.014 -.035 Mature Faith Index .786** .468** .357** .468** 1 .084 .004 -.003 -.007 Faith Behaviors .427** .302** .297** 1 .027 .031 -.042 .026 Understand Vocation .303** .261** .279** 1 -.006 .021 .010 Discern/ Action .248** -.161* .169* 1 -.061 -.082 -.247** .479** 1 -.026 -.069 Life Purpose Personal Barriers .394** .489** -.327** 1 Interperson Barriers .465** -.222** 1 Sociocult Barriers -.263** 1 1 Wellness

Gender Differences: Mature Faith Index 170 168 166 164 162 160 158 156 Male Female

Gender Differences: Faith Behaviors 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 Male Female

Gender Differences: Negative Religious Coping 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Male Female

Gender Differences: Doubts 8.2 8.1 8 7.9 7.8 7.7 7.6 7.5 7.4 Male Female

Gender Differences: Understanding Vocation 70.5 70 69.5 69 68.5 68 67.5 67 66.5 Male Female

Gender Differences: Life Purpose 62 61.5 61 60.5 60 59.5 Male Female

Gender Differences: Personal Barriers 25.4 25.3 25.2 25.1 25 24.9 24.8 24.7 24.6 24.5 24.4 Male Female

Gender Differences: Sociocultural Barriers 15.4 15.2 15 14.8 14.6 14.4 14.2 14 13.8 13.6 13.4 Male Female

Gender Differences: Wellness 149 148 147 146 145 144 143 142 141 140 Male Female

Female Correlations Mature Faith Index Faith/ Spiritual Faith Behaviors Understand Vocation Discern/ Acton Life Purpose Personal Barriers Interperson Barriers Sociocult Barriers Wellness Faith/ Spiritual .767** .763** .444** .448** .394** 1 .055 -.049 .019 -.024 Mature Faith Index .741** .350** .365** .464** 1 .020 .019 .042 .039 Faith Behaviors .303** .282** .221** 1 -.056 .041 .002 .053 Understand Vocation .327** .254** .269** 1 .023 .042 .092 Discern/ Action .256** .222** 1 -.154 -.042 .035 -.187* .458** 1 .000 -.016 Life Purpose Personal Barriers .366** .453** -.350** 1 Interperson Barriers .446** -.259** 1 Sociocult Barriers -.235** 1 1 Wellness

Male Correlations Mature Faith Index Faith/ Spiritual Faith Behaviors Understand Vocation Discern/ Acton Life Purpose Personal Barriers Interperson Barriers Sociocult Barriers Wellness Faith/ Spiritual .807** .845** .598** .227* .327** .414** 1 .014 -.080 -.079 Mature Faith Index .843** .616** .326** .460** 1 .202 -.055 -.103 -.109 Faith Behaviors .584** .315** .424** 1 .166 -.005 -.129 -.038 Understand Vocation .321** .278* .316** 1 -.043 .003 -.106 Discern/ Action .249* -.288* 1 -.177 -.099 .089 -.399** .515** 1 -.089 -.184 Life Purpose Personal Barriers .444** .562** -.321** 1 Interperson Barriers .503** 1 -.171 Sociocult Barriers -.394** 1 1 Wellness

First Year Law Student Life Purpose Survey

Demographics Gender: Female 52.2% Male 47.8% Sample Size 142 Political Affiliation: Democrat 35.7% Republican 26.2% Independent 21.4% Libertarian 9.5% Other 7.1% Ethnicity: Caucasian 45.1% Asian 6.8% Latino 6.8% African American 4.5% American Indian/Alaska Native 1.5% Multiracial 20.3% Religious Preferences: Christian 70% Agnostic 11.5% Atheist 10% Jewish 5.4% Muslim 1.5% Hindu 0.8% Other 0.8%

Survey Questions 1. I am able to integrate my personal values with my professional skills. (89.3% agree) 2. I am able to integrate my faith with my professional skills. (55.9% agree) 3. I feel prepared to make ethical decisions. (80.7% agree) 4. I have mentors and/or professional models that significantly impact my professional development. (80% agree) 5. I am currently involved in service activities related to my professional development. (35.3% agree) 6. I would describe my life as having a good work/life balance. (63.5% agree) 7. I have a clear plan of action for my professional development while in law school and beyond. (56.1% agree)

Correlation: All Students All Students Values Faith Ethical Mentor Service Balance Plan Values 1 .457** .414** .355** .237** .328** .409** Faith 1 .112 .440** .362** .364** .265** Ethical 1 .288** .148 .254** .358** Mentor 1 .356** .189* .333** Service 1 .304** 240** Balance 1 .417** Plan 1

Correlation: Female Female Students Values Faith Ethical Mentor Service Balance Plan Values 1 .247* .462** .352** .143 .208 .368** Faith 1 .073 .185 .204 .253* .176 Ethical 1 .194 .133 .255* .427** Mentor 1 .048 .000 .308* Service 1 .333** .303* Balance 1 .438** Plan 1

Correlation: Male Male Students Values Faith Ethical Mentor Service Balance Plan Values 1 .611** .395** .360** .341** .461** .438** Faith 1 .123 .538** .486* .450** .333** Ethical 1 .330** .155 .247* .370** Mentor 1 .555** .291* .369** Service 1 .278* .221 Balance 1 .439** Plan 1

Open Ended Questions: Professional Skills & Faith 1. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree to which you integrate your personal values with your professional skills. My personal values highlight a belief in honestly and integrity, coupled with high levels of motivation. I try to implement my personal values of respect, tolerance, and kindness in the professional environment, and I find that this helps me connect with people who are different than me. 2. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree to which you integrate your faith with your professional skills. I live a faithful life, but, out of tactfulness, I don't share it too openly, only in reserved situations or invited situations but it exudes via my behavior. I believe it is even more important to show people who Jesus is rather than tell them, and by showing love and grace to clients and opposing sides does this.

Ethics & Mentors 3. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree to which you are able to make professional ethical decisions. I still have plenty to learn in terms of the ethical rules of my profession, but I have generally a good ethical standing. I'm not 100% prepared just because I don't know what ethical decisions I will be faced with. 4. Provide a personal example that illustrates how mentors and/or professional models have impacted your professional development. I have mentors provided by the university as well as ones that I have built relationships with. They are excellent and I know that I can count on them Student mentors and preceptors have been an amazing resource to have. I am working on cultivating mentors but the process is still in the early stages.

Service & Balance 5. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree to which you are involved in service activities related to your professional development. This is an area that I need to work on. I am not involved in any significant activities, and I need to start trying to figure out what to do in this area I attend CLA (Christian Legal Aid) and am volunteering with Global Justice I nitiatives. I've gone to CLA, and I really enjoy it. 6. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree that your life reflects a good work/life balance. Law school makes this a challenge. Some days I can strike a balance, some days school overwhelms all attempts at balance. I use my time effectively and have learned to not feel guilty when taking breaks. It was very challenging as first to take time for myself, but I realized that it is crucial to my success.

Plan of Action 7. Provide a personal example that illustrates the degree to which you have a plan of action for your professional development. I have already started the process of developing contacts at desirable employers after law school. At this point, I have general ideas, but no specific plan. I hope to obtain a meaningful leadership position in an organization whose mission I am passionate about. I know what I want. Not sure how to get there.

Don Thompson thompson@pepperdine.edu, x4831 Cindy Miller-Perrin cperrin@pepperdine.edu, x4027