Abstract
Volunteering can be a means of identity development in emerging adulthood and it can provide a protective environment for vocational identity formation. The aims of our study were two-fold: (1) to investigate vocational identity statuses of student emerging adult volunteers (N = 385, 75.1% females) and (2) to analyze how these statuses are linked to volunteering functions. First, we classified volunteers into six vocational identity statuses. Second, we found that volunteers in achievement and moratorium statuses scored highest on most of the volunteering functions as they are actively exploring their vocational alternatives. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Résumé
Relation entre les Fonctions du Volontariat et l’Identité Vocationelle chez les Adultes Emergents Volontaires Le volontariat peut être un moyen de développement d’identité chez les adultes émergents et peut fournir un environnement protecteur pour la formation de l’identité vocationnelle. Le but de notre étude est double: (1) investiguer les statuts d’identité vocationnelle des adultes émergents étudiants volontaires (N = 385, 75.1% de femmes) et (2) d’analyser comment ces statuts sont liés aux fonctions de volontariat. Premièrement, nous avons classifié les volontaires en 6 statuts d’identité vocationnelle. Deuxièmement, nous avons trouvé que les volontaires dans les statuts d’accomplissement et de moratoire ont eu des scores plus élevés sur la plupart des fonctions de volontariat comme ils explorent activement leurs alternatives vocationnelles. Des implications pour la recherche et la pratique sont discutées.
Zusammenfasung
Beziehungen zwischen den Funktionen der Freiwilligenarbeit und der beruflichen Identität von Freiwilligen an der Schwelle zum Erwachsensein Freiwilligenarbeit kann ein Mittel zur Identitätsentwicklung an der Schwelle zum Erwachsensein sein und ein schützendes Umfeld für die berufliche Identitätsbildung bieten. Unsere Studie verfolgte zwei Ziele: (1) die Untersuchung der beruflichen Identitätsstatus von studentischen Freiwilligen an der Schwelle zum Erwachsensein (N = 385, 75,1 % Frauen) und (2) die Analyse, wie diese Status mit den Funktionen der Freiwilligenarbeit verbunden sind. Zunächst klassifizierten wir die Freiwilligen in sechs berufliche Identitätsstatus. Zweitens stellten wir fest, dass Freiwillige im Leistungs- und Moratoriumsstatus (erarbeitete bzw. kritische Identität) bei den meisten der Freiwilligenfunktionen am besten abschnitten, da sie aktiv ihre beruflichen Alternativen erkunden. Die Relevanz für Forschung und Praxis wird diskutiert.
Resumen
Las relaciones entre las funciones de voluntariado y la identidad vocacional en adultos emergentes voluntarios El voluntariado puede ser un medio de desarrollo de identidad en la etapa adulta emergente y puede proporcionar un entorno protector para la formación de la identidad vocacional. Los objetivos de nuestro estudio giraban en torno a dos bloques: (1) investigar los estados de identidad vocacional de los estudiantes voluntarios considerados adultos emergentes (N = 385, 75.1% mujeres) y (2) analizar cómo estos estados están relacionados con las funciones de voluntariado. Primero, clasificamos a los voluntarios en seis estados de identidad vocacional. En segundo lugar, descubrimos cómo los voluntarios que se encontraban en estado de logro y moratoria obtuvieron las mejores calificaciones en la mayoría de las funciones de voluntariado, dado que están explorando de forma activa sus alternativas vocacionales. Se discuten las implicaciones para la investigación y la práctica.
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Acknowledgements
This study is based on the MA dissertation conducted by the first author, under the supervision of the second author. The first author was supported by Babes-Bolyai University through a performance-mentored fellowship (37409). The second author was supported by a grant of Ministry of Research and Innovation, CNCS - UEFISCDI, Project Number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2016-0292, within PNCDI III.
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Marinica, B.V., Negru-Subtirica, O. Relationships between volunteering functions and vocational identity in emerging adult volunteers. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 20, 591–611 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-020-09418-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-020-09418-3