Date

5-20-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Patrick Slowinksi

Keywords

occupational identity, self-perception, others-perception, divine-perception, career choice satisfaction, intrinsic job satisfaction, work–life purpose

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Individuals are often remembered not solely for who they are but also for what they do. Grounded in identity theory, social identity theory, and informed biblical theology, this study advanced the premise that occupation serves as the most salient expression of identity and purpose. The construct of work–life purpose, defined as the alignment between an individual’s occupational pursuits and overarching life purpose, was introduced. This study examined the relationships among occupational identity; career choice satisfaction; intrinsic job satisfaction; and self-perception, others-perception, and divine-perception. Using bivariate correlations and regression analyses, the results revealed significant correlations among constructs, but the predictive power of measurable perceptions demonstrated differential effects. Self-perception and others-perception showed meaningful associations with occupational identity, whereas divine-perception did not exhibit comparable predictive strength. These findings suggested that psychological and social perceptions play a more immediate role in shaping occupational satisfaction than spiritual perceptions do. Overall, this study reinforced the importance of aligning work purpose with life purpose to foster identity clarity and sustained fulfillment, thereby actualizing employee and organizational effectiveness.

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