Program
Education Doctorate
Number of Pages
128
Year Approved
2026
First Advisor
Michael Lindstrom
Second Reader
Jolyn Dahlvig
Third Reader
Peter Jankowski
Abstract
This quantitative study examined relationships among social perspective-taking, the search for meaning, and a sense of belonging among college students. Drawing on data from the 2021 Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership, this research tested whether social perspective-taking and the search for meaning predicted higher levels of belonging. Additionally, covariates, including race, religious affiliation, gender, and COVID-19, were analyzed to assess their effects on both the independent and dependent variables. A regression analysis was performed, and as hypothesized, students with higher levels of social perspective-taking and those searching for meaning reported greater belonging. In addition, the covariates race, religious affiliation, COVID-19, and gender yielded notable insights into both the independent and dependent variables, indicating that each variable, except gender, influenced the development of belonging. These findings align with the theoretical frameworks of Ryff and Schreiner, which hold that belonging is not merely about proximity but about being valued, connected, and in mutually beneficial relationships with others. Keywords: social perspective-taking, search for meaning, sense of belonging
Degree Name
Education Doctorate
Document Type
Doctoral dissertation
Recommended Citation
Powers, M. J. (2026). Social Perspective Taking, the Search for Meaning, and a Sense of Belonging in Emerging Adults [Doctoral dissertation, Bethel University]. Spark Repository. https://spark.bethel.edu/etd/1262
Terms of Use and License Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.