A Longitudinal Study of Adult Life Experiences and Developmental Outcomes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that selected life experiences are related to developmental outcomes. To test this hypothesis, answers to questions from the National Longitudinal Survey of the High School Class of 1972 were used. Developmental outcomes were operationalized through the four dependent variables of personal agency, political participation, concern for social inequality, and social action participation. Seven independent variables representing life experiences were marriage, parenting, unemployment, type of employer, work with people, educational attainment, and location. After controlling for initial differences, each of the seven variables used to operationalize life experience was found to be significantly related to one or more of the four dependent variables representing developmental outcomes. These results were interpreted as presenting convincing support for the connection between life experience, learning, and developmental outcomes.