Abstract

DE JAGER-VAN STRAATEN, Angelique; JORGENSEN, Lené; HILL, Carin  and  NEL, Jan Alewyn. Personal growth initiative among Industrial Psychology students in a higher education institution in South Africa. SA j. ind. Psychol. [online]. 2016, vol.42, n.1, pp.1-11. ISSN 2071-0763.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v42i1.1283.

ORIENTATION: Personal growth initiative (PGI) is an important characteristic of workplace counsellors. Industrial and organisational (I-O) psychologists often assist employees with counselling for work-related and personal problems, and therefore PGI is an important research topic for this profession. RESEARCH PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the PGI of I-O psychology students in a higher education institution in South Africa, as well as to explore differences in PGI between demographic groups. MOTIVATION: According to the scope of practice for psychologists, growth and development of employees form part of an I-O psychologist's responsibilities. PGI is an important characteristic of I-O psychologists as it enables them to efficiently assist employees in growth and development processes. RESEARCH DESIGN, APPROACH AND METHOD: A cross-sectional survey design was used. A purposive non-probability sample (N = 568) of I-O psychology students was taken from a higher education institution in South Africa. A biographical questionnaire and the personal growth initiative scale (PGIS) were used as measuring instruments. MAIN FINDINGS: The results indicated that (1) the PGIS is a valid and reliable measure of PGI, (2) PGI is prevalent amongst I-O psychology students and (3) PGI differs between certain demographic groups. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The findings of this study will assist in the future development of a training programme for I-O psychology students to equip them with the counselling skills they need to function in a counselling role. CONTRIBUTION: This study contributes to knowledge regarding the importance of PGI for I-O psychology students. The study will also assist higher education institutes to adapt their training programmes in order to prepare I-O psychology students for their role as counsellors. More knowledge will also be provided with regard to the functioning of the PGIS.

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