Transcendent Vocations: Their Relationship to Stress, Depression, and Clarity of Self-Concept

This study explores the relationship between transcendent vocations— work to which one feels “called”—and stress, depression, and clarity of self-concept. Participants ( N = 127) completed a questionnaire containing four independent scales (the Self-Concept Confusion Scale [SCCS], the Perceived Stress Scale [PSS], the Costello-Comrey Depression Scale [CCDS], and the Engagement in Meaningful Work Scale [EMWS]) along with two essay questions. In addition, 6 of these participants—3 high EMWS and 3 low EMWS—were selected for postquestionnaire interviews. As predicted by individuation, self-actualization, and flow theories, being engaged in meaningful work as a calling was correlated negatively with stress and depression and correlated positively with clarity of self-concept. Also, clarity of self-concept was correlated negatively with stress and depression, whereas stress and depression were correlated positively with each other. Furthermore, engagement in meaningful work was correlated positively to problem-focused coping and correlated negatively to emotion-focused (avoidance) coping.