Personal Growth Initiative Research Articles

Differences in the Career Adaptability and Life Satisfaction According to Cluster Types Based on the Personal Growth Initiative and Career Calling

Differences in the Career Adaptability and Life Satisfaction According to Cluster Types Based on the Personal Growth Initiative and Career Calling

Self-focused and other-focused resiliency: Plausible mechanisms linking early family adversity to health problems in college women

ABSTRACTObjectives: This study examined whether self-focused and other-focused resiliency help explain how early family adversity relates to perceived stress, subjective health, and health behaviors in college women. Participants: Female students (N = 795) participated between October 2009 and May 2010. Methods: Participants completed self-report measures of early family adversity, self-focused (self-esteem, personal growth initiative) and other-focused (perceived social support, gratitude) resiliency, stress, subjective health, and health behaviors. Results: Using structural equation modeling, self-focused resiliency associated with less stress, better subjective health, more sleep, less smoking, and less weekend alcohol consumption. Other-focused resiliency associated with more exercise, greater stress, and more weekend alcohol consumption. Early family adversity was indirectly related to all health outcomes, except smoking, via self-focused and other-focused resiliency. Conclusions: Self-focused and other-focused resiliency represent plausible mechanisms through which early family adversity relates to stress and health in college women. This highlights areas for future research in disease prevention and management.

Analyzing Reflections in Service Learning to Promote Personal Growth and Community Self-Efficacy

The use of structured reflections for promoting personal understanding and community self-efficacy was examined in 65 occupational therapy college students in a service learning course. Students in the experimental group wrote structured reflections throughout the semester while students in the control groups used non-structured reflections. Outcome measures included quantitative tests of personal understanding and community self-efficacy (Personal Growth Initiative Scale, New General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Community Self-Efficacy Scale) and a qualitative narrative. Results indicated that students who wrote structured reflections significantly increased in personal growth and personal self-efficacy, whereas those using non-structured reflections showed no change. Both groups improved in community self-efficacy scores with no significant difference between groups.

The protective function of personal growth initiative among a genocide-affected population in Rwanda.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the extent to which individual differences in personal growth initiative (PGI) were associated with lower reports of functional impairment of daily activities among a genocide-affected population in Rwanda. PGI measures an individual's motivation to develop as a person and the extent to which he or she is active in setting goals that work toward achieving self-improvement. We found that PGI was negatively associated with functional impairment when controlling for depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other demographic factors. Our results suggest that PGI may constitute an important mindset for facilitating adaptive functioning in the aftermath of adversity and in the midst of psychological distress, and as such they might have practical applications for the development of intervention programs.

Assessing measurement invariance of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II among Hispanics, African Americans, and European Americans.

This study tested the cross-cultural validity of scores on the Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II (PGIS-II; Robitschek et al., 2012) with Hispanic, African American, and European American community samples. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses were performed on data from 218 Hispanics, 129 African Americans, and 552 European Americans to examine measurement equivalence among these groups. Measurement invariance of the PGIS-II was established with the original 4 factors of readiness for change, planfulness, using resources, and intentional behavior. These findings suggest the PGIS-II can be administered across these groups and provide meaningful comparisons and interpretations. All samples yielded good internal consistency estimates. The African American sample reported higher means than Hispanic and European American samples for all subscale and total mean scores, and Hispanics scored higher in planfulness, readiness for change, and total score than European Americans, indicating potential cultural factors influencing the scores. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.

Personal Growth and Trait Anxiety amongHigher Secondary School Students

The study aims to determine Personal Growth and Trait Anxiety among Higher Secondary Students were chosen for the study. A random sampling technique was adapted for the selection of sample the schools selected for this study is divided into different status namely government and private schools. Then random convenient sampling technique was adopted to select the sample 300 students were taken for the study 150 students were drawn from government schools ,150 students were taken from private schools. The students studying in XI standard were chosen as the sample. Personal data sheet developed by the investigator. Personal Growth Initiative Scale by Christine Robitschek (2011), Trait anxiety by Charles D. Speilberger, (1983). Were used to collect data. Results were statistically analyzed through Descriptive Analysis, Differential Analysis, Relational Analysis, and Chi-square Analysis in this study for the personal growth and trait anxiety. Personal growth and Trait Anxiety are negatively correlated to each other and gender as an impact on Personal Growth and Trait Anxiety among Higher Secondary Students.

Mediating and moderating role of academic self-efficacy in the relationship between student academic support and personal growth initiative

The primary goal of the current study was to investigate the mediating and moderating effects of the academic self-efficacy in the relationship between student academic support and personal growth initiative. The Turkish version of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale, the Student Academic Support Scale, and the Academic Self-efficacy Scale were administrated to a sample of 237 university students, between the ages of 18 and 23. The present study showed that academic self-efficacy and student academic support were positively related to personal growth initiative. Regression-based mediation analysis indicated that the effect of student academic support on personal growth initiative was mediated by academic self-efficacy. However, the effect of student academic support on personal growth initiative was not moderated by academic self-efficacy. These findings suggested that the student academic support was both direct and indirect effects on personal growth initiative.

Enhancing psychological capital and personal growth initiative: working on strengths or deficiencies.

Personal growth initiative (PGI), defined as being proactive about one's personal development, is critical to graduate students' academic success. Prior research has shown that students' PGI can be enhanced through interventions that focus on stimulating developmental activities. Within this study, we aimed to investigate whether an intervention that stimulates development in the area of one's personal strengths (strengths intervention) has more beneficial effects on students' PGI than an intervention that stimulates development in the area of individual deficiencies (deficiency intervention). We conducted 2 longitudinal field experiments to investigate the effects of the 2 interventions on students' PGI (Experiment 1) and the potential mediating role of psychological capital (PsyCap) in this regard (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, 105 (N = 105) university students participated in either a strengths intervention or a deficiency intervention. Results indicated that the strengths intervention increased the students' PGI in the short but not in the long term, whereas the deficiency intervention did not affect PGI. Ninety students (N = 90) participated in Experiment 2, in which we slightly refined both interventions by putting a stronger emphasis on the ongoing development of strengths (strengths intervention) or correction of deficiencies (deficiency intervention) by adding posttraining assignments. Results suggested that participating in both interventions led to increases in PGI over a 3-month period, but that these increases were bigger for the strengths intervention group. Furthermore, the relationship between the strengths intervention and PGI was mediated by hope as one component of PsyCap.

Subjective Happiness as Mediator between Personal Growth Initiative and Life Satisfaction in Adolescents

Purpose: This study was carried out to assess the mediating role of subjective happiness in relationship between personal growth initiative and life satisfaction. The relationship between personal growth initiative, subjective happiness and life satisfaction was also explored. Basic procedure: The study involved 200 adolescent students from Jammu and Rajauri (India). Pearson’s correlation, regression analysis and Sobel test were used for statistical analysis. Main findings: Results revealed positive relationship between all the three variables in study. Partial mediation role of subjective happiness was confirmed in this study. Principle conclusions: The findings of study reveal that efforts made to seek change develop feelings of happiness which in turn is responsible for life satisfaction. The results obtained emphasize on developing certain interventions to enhance subjective happiness in adolescent students for greater satisfaction in life. Findings of the study might be particularly useful for education system.

Individual Factors Influencing Career Growth Prospects in Contexts of Radical Organizational Changes

This study examined the influence of individual factors (demographic variables, self-efficacy beliefs and personal growth initiative) on career growth prospects within the context of radical organizational changes such as downsizing, mergers and acquisition. Data were collected using the questionnaire method from 199 employees in branches of a commercial bank located in a major city in South-Western Nigeria. Results of the simple multiple regression analysis showed that educational attainment (? = -.15, p < .05), tenure in the banking sector (? = -.41, p < .01), basic monthly income (? = .46, p < .001) and job status (? = .34, p < .01) are significant demographic factors in career growth prospects. The analysis of covariance which controlled for covariates revealed significant differences in the career growth prospects of employees with low levels of self-efficacy and those with high levels – in favor of the latter. In contrast, high or low levels of personal growth initiative resulted in comparable levels of career growth prospects. Self-efficacy beliefs and personal growth initiative interacted significantly to affect career growth prospect such that greater levels of career growth prospect was expressed irrespective of whether an employee is high or low on personal growth initiative when self-efficacy belief is high. Implications of findings are discussed.

Relationship between Cognitive Behavioural Coaching for Career supports and Personal Growth Initiative

Relationship between Cognitive Behavioural Coaching for Career supports and Personal Growth Initiative

Personal growth initiative and identity formation in adolescence through young adulthood: Mediating processes on the pathway to well-being

Developing a personal identity is a challenging task throughout adolescence and the transition to adulthood. The present study sampling 551 14–35 year olds (54.1% female) examined personal growth initiative (PGI) as a potential predictor of core identity processes and explored whether identity functioned as a mediator on the pathway from PGI to self-esteem and depressive symptoms. Path analyses from a structural equation modeling approach indicated that all four components of PGI (i.e., planfulness, readiness for change, intentional behavior, and using resources) predicted different commitment and exploration processes, with planfulness being the most consistent predictor. Important age differences linking PGI-components to identity exploration were found. Finally, especially the degree to which individuals identified themselves with their identity commitments and the degree to which they relied on ruminative or maladaptive forms of identity exploration mediated pathways from PGI to self-esteem and depressive symptoms. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Early adversity, personal resources, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating.

Early adverse experiences have been associated with disordered eating, but the mechanisms underlying that association are not well understood. The purpose of this study is to test a structural equation model in which early adversity is associated with disordered eating via intrapersonal resources, interpersonal resources, and body dissatisfaction. Female university students (n = 748) completed a series of questionnaires online, including measures of early adverse experiences, intrapersonal resources (self-esteem and personal growth initiative), interpersonal resources (gratitude and social support), body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating and exercising to lose weight. Structural equation modeling indicated that early adverse experiences were negatively associated with interpersonal and intrapersonal resources. Intrapersonal resources were negatively associated with body dissatisfaction, whereas interpersonal resources were positively associated with body dissatisfaction (although negative bivariate correlations in this latter case suggest possible suppression effects). Finally, body dissatisfaction was associated with a range of disordered eating behaviors and exercise. Early adverse experiences are important to consider in models of disordered eating. The results of this study highlight potential points of early prevention efforts, such as improving personal resources for those who experience early adversity, to help reduce the risk of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in young women.

A Two-Wave Longitudinal Study of Career Calling Among Undergraduates

This two-wave longitudinal study investigated the reciprocal relations between five possible predictors of career calling (presence of life meaning, search for life meaning, career decision self-efficacy, personal growth initiative, and intrinsic religiousness) among a sample of undergraduate college students over a 6-month period. Using structural equation modeling, two models were tested. The first model included all five predictor variables and was a poor fit for the data; the second model included only search for life meaning and personal growth and displayed improved model fit. Results from the second model indicated that search for life meaning and personal growth at Time 1 significantly predicted calling at Time 2, whereas calling at Time 1 was a nonsignificant predictor of either Time 2 outcomes. These findings suggest the more one is searching for his or her meaning in life and intentionally engaging in self-improvement, the more likely she or he is to later experience a calling.

The protective function of belief in personal change among genocide survivors in Rwanda

The current cross-sectional study investigated the protective function of a measure of belief in personal change—personal growth initiative (PGI; Robitschek, 1998)—on physical and mental health outcomes in a genocide-affected population in Rwanda. Specifically, we examined whether an individual’s belief in their ability to change and develop had an adaptive role in managing symptoms of distress. Prior research has demonstrated that high levels of PGI are associated with psychological well-being (Robitschek & Keyes, 2009), and lower levels of depression and anxiety (Robitschek & Kashubeck, 1999). We found that genocide survivors who reported high levels of depression and low levels of PGI experienced greater physical impairment in their day-to-day life, and identified fewer positive personality changes as a result of their experience (i.e., posttraumatic growth; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996). The results suggest that PGI might be an important psychological factor in enhancing recovery and well-being in the aftermath of adversity.

Examining the Structure, Reliability, and Validity of the Chinese Personal Growth Initiative Scale–II: Evidence for the Importance of Intentional Self-Change Among Chinese

We examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Chinese version of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale–II (CPGIS–II) using data from a sample of 927 Chinese university students. Consistent with previous findings, confirmatory factor analyses supported a 4-factor model of the CPGIS–II. Reliability analyses indicated that the 4 CPGIS–II subscales, namely Readiness for Change, Planfulness, Using Resources, and Intentional Behavior, demonstrated good internal consistency reliability and adequate test–retest reliability across a 4-week period. In addition, evidence for convergent and incremental validity was found in relation to measures of positive and negative psychological adjustment. Finally, results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that the 4 personal growth initiative dimensions, especially planfulness, accounted for additional unique variance in psychological adjustment beyond resilience. Some implications for using the CPGIS–II in Chinese are discussed.

Examination of the Psychometric Properties of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale–II in African American College Students

Personal growth initiative (PGI), an individual's active and intentional desire to engage in the growth process, has been an important construct in studies of physical and mental health around the world. However, there is a dearth of research examining this construct in African American samples. In addition, PGI has recently undergone a revision of both its theory and measure; the resulting Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II (PGIS-II) has been validated for use only with European American and international college student samples. The current study examined the psychometric properties of the PGIS-II in a sample of African American college students. Confirmatory factor analyses yielded results consistent with previous studies, and the PGIS-II showed evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for three of its four factors. In addition, the PGIS-II was significantly related to aspects of Black racial identity, suggesting that it is a viable construct in this population.

Gratitude, Hope, Mindfulness and Personal-Growth Initiative: Buffers or Risk Factors for Problem Gambling?

The majority of prevention and intervention research in problem gambling (PG) has focused on identifying negative risk factors. However, not all at-risk individuals go on to develop anticipated disorders and many thrive in spite of them. In healthcare settings, PG and other disorders are typically conceptualized from the biomedical perspective that frame disorders as something negative residing within the individual and reduction in negativity is seen as success. Indeed, this problem-focused conceptualization may be adequate in many cases as reducing PG behaviour is undoubtedly an important outcome, but the focus on negativity alone is too narrow to capture the complexity of human behaviour. Hence, this study attempts to bridge the gap in literature by providing an evaluation of the predictive ability of the positive dispositions on problem gambling severity, gambling-related cognitions, and gambling urges. The positive psychological dispositions examined were curiosity, gratitude, hope, personal growth initiative, and mindfulness. Participants consisted of 801 Taiwanese Chinese students and community individuals (Mean age = 25.36 years). Higher levels of gratitude and hope have been found to predict lower PG, gambling-related cognitions, or gambling urges. Meanwhile, higher mindfulness predicted lower PG, but only among Chinese males. However, lower personal growth initiative predicted lower PG, gambling-related cognitions, and gambling urges. These analyses have small to medium effect sizes with significant predictions. Findings of this study have essential implications in understanding and treating Chinese problem gamblers. These positive dispositions should be addressed by mental health professionals in preventative and treatment programs among Chinese individuals. Further implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Personal Growth Initiative: Concept, Measurement, and the Influence

Personal Growth Initiative: Concept, Measurement, and the Influence

Model of Occupational Empowerment and Gunnarsson’s Tree Theme: Intervention for Mothers in Recovery

In this study the authors investigated Gunnarsson's Tree Theme Method as an occupational therapy intervention program for mothers in recovery from addiction in accordance with Fisher and Hotchkiss's Model of Occupational Empowerment (2008). Each session of this mixed design study consisted of relaxation exercises, discussions on self-help readings, and participation in the Tree Theme Method. Two participants out of three improved their personal growth initiative. Participant reflection provided insight into the women's inner feelings. Fisher and Hotchkiss's model (2008) was supported as the women achieved personal growth. Further research is needed concerning how this may guide occupational therapy practice with disadvantaged populations.