| dc.description.abstract | In the Western world, going to college often defines the transition from late adolescence into young adulthood. College is a distinct time in which students tend to have increased discretionary time, leisure opportunities, autonomy in leisure choices, and, as well, engage in increasingly complex developmental tasks, such as identity formation. Leisure is important for college students’ development, and certain forms, such as extracurricular activities (ECAs) are known to support thriving into adulthood. Service-oriented ECAs, in particular, foster self- and identity-related developmental outcomes, such as purpose. Especially when enacted as a form of serious leisure, service-oriented ECAs should be associated with increased meaning in life
(MIL). This study used secondary data from a study about character development through ECA participation (n = 557). Three dosage indicators were used as a measure of service: intensity
(hours), frequency (weeks), and duration (years), with only duration significant in predicting MIL. An unexpected finding was that participation in service-oriented ECAs was associated with decreases in MIL. Beyond service participation, both intrinsic and extrinsic motives predicted significant increases in MIL. However, the size of the effect for intrinsic motives was relatively larger than for extrinsic motives. Results suggests that the internalization of intrinsic, values-based motives is salient for presence of MIL in college students. These findings are important for leaders and organizers of community service to further understand a robust population of individuals with a variety of motives and significant free time, who benefit from continued participation. | |
