Psychological Heterogeneity Among Honors College Students. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cross, Tracy L.; Cross, Jennifer Riedl; Mammadov, Sakhavat; Ward, Thomas J.; Neumeister, Kristie Speirs; Andersen, Lori
• Other Names: Rinn Anne N. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal for the education of the gifted. Volume 41:Number 3(2018:Sep.)
• Page Start: 242
• Page End: 272
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: Honors college -- personality -- counseling and guidance -- suicide -- perfectionism; Gifted children -- Education -- United States -- Periodicals; 371.9505
• DOI: 10.1177/0162353218781754
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0162-3532

Abstract

Greater knowledge of the psychology of honors college students will help to inform program administrators, counselors, residence life assistants, and faculty about how they may provide support to those with the greatest need. Via an online survey, personality, perfectionism, and suicidal ideation data were collected from honors college students ( N = 410, 73% female). Using latent profile analysis, students were classified by their responses to the Big Five Inventory personality measure into five profiles. Risk factors of high perfectionism and suicidal ideation scores were found in two of the profiles, suggesting students with these personality characteristics may need enhanced psychological support. The largest profile (35% of students) had extraversion scores above the norm, but all other profiles had introverted scores below the norm. Neuroticism scores were also higher than the norm in the introverted profiles, which represented a majority of the honors college students.