Home > Other Collections > ACSD > Growth > No. 15 (2016)
Abstract
The primary purpose of this project was to explore how Schlossberg’s (1989) theory of college student’s mattering relates to college student retention in the context of a Christian institution of higher education. In addition, the authors created and tested a “spiritual mattering” measure based on Schlossberg’s theory. Mattering is a self-perception that refers to how important we believe we are to others. Schlossberg (1989) inserted this concept into the realm of higher education when she examined mattering and adult students returning to college. The purpose of the study was accomplished through the following three research objectives: a) Determining whether “institutional” mattering predicts fall-to-fall semester persistence of first-year students at a religiously-affiliated campus; b) Constructing a spiritual mattering measure and assessing its psychometric properties; and c) Determining whether spiritual mattering predicts fall-to-fall semester persistence of first-year students at a Christian institution of higher education. The results of the study supported the hypothesis that higher scores for both spiritual mattering and university mattering were significantly related to higher retention rates at an institution of higher education.
Recommended Citation
Morris, Jason; Spencer, Alison A.; and Gray, Avia
(2016)
"Examining Mattering, Spiritual Mattering, and First-Year Retention at a Private, Religiously-Affiliated Institution of Higher Education,"
Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development: Vol. 15:
No.
15, Article 7.
Available at:
https://pillars.taylor.edu/acsd_growth/vol15/iss15/7
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