Frontiers The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad · 2010 · 39 citations · 0 references
EducationHigher EducationVocational EducationIdentity DevelopmentInternational Higher EducationVocational CounselingAdolescent Identity DevelopmentAdolescent Identity FormationFaith DevelopmentInternational Student ExperienceStudent Identity DevelopmentStudent Identity FormationAdolescent Faith DevelopmentFaith GrowthFaith MaturationInteraction EffectsInternational Student IdentityPersonal Growth MotivationRandom SamplingStudent Experience Abroad
The present study examined the impact of an international program experience on college students’ personal growth in the areas of faith, vocational calling, and identity. Participants were selected from a random sample of 300 students belonging to a Lilly Endowment sponsored study. A subsample of 37 students who participated in an international program (the IP Group) was matched demographically to 37 students who did not (No IP Group). Repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted, revealing significant interaction effects, indicating that faith, life purpose, and identity achievement scores increased over time for the IP Group but decreased for the No IP Group.