Major and Classification
Majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Lisa Aziz-Zadeh – USC Dornsife, Department of Psychology
Department
USC Dornsife, Department of Psychology & USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Research Gateway Project
The Heart of Higher Education: Compassion, Academic Values, and Purpose Among College Students
Project Abstract
In the transformative years of higher education, college students engage in profound self-exploration, confronting questions about identity, values, and their role in society. This study aims to understand how various academic values correlate with a students’ sense of purpose and their tendency to exhibit compassion. Data was collected from emerging adult college students using a cross-sectional survey methodology. The survey measured self-reported dispositions of compassion, purpose, and academic values, utilizing the Dispositional Positive Affect Scale for Compassion, Claremont Purpose Scale, and Academic Values Scale (AVS). The study involved 303 respondents aged 18 to 26, primarily USC students (98.3%). The sample included 37.0% males, 62.4% females, and 0.7% non-binary individuals, with notable representation from Black or African American (14.2%), Asian (37.6%), and White (40.3%) respondents. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between dispositions of compassion and both the desire to work beyond self-interest and a stronger sense of purpose. Additionally, there was a significant positive relationship between compassion and engaging in academics for its intrinsic value. Conversely, a strong negative relationship was found between a sense of purpose and the feeling of having no better option than attending college. The findings suggest that individuals with higher levels of compassion are more likely to seek work that benefits others and derive a sense of purpose from their actions. Additionally, these individuals tend to engage in academic activities for their inherent value rather than external pressures or incentives. On the other hand, those with a strong sense of purpose are less likely to feel that attending college is their only option. These results highlight the importance of fostering compassion and a sense of purpose in educational and professional settings, potentially leading to more meaningful and fulfilling engagements both academically and in the workforce.