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Character strengths and sense of calling in emerging adults.

Emerging adulthood is considered a particularly important period for seeking life roles that provide a sense of purpose or meaningfulness. It is also considered a critical formative period for moral maturity in adulthood, and for personality changes that relate closely to character development. Beginning with a preliminary study in PSY 4106 Advanced Research Methods, the current research is investigating developmental changes in character and vocation/calling in SPU psychology students (n=170, ages 18 to 35 years) from their early to final years as undergraduates. In addition to demographic questions, measures used were the “Calling and Vocation Questionnaire” and the “VIA Character Strength Survey.”