A Holistic Model of Student Development

Whole-Person Development of Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Multi-University Study

“…Zhang (2016) mentioned that integrating all holistic dimensions could generate positive environments that help develop understanding and critical thinking skills. Fostering a positive holistic development equates to integrating a student’s emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative, and spiritual progress (Ng et al, 2016). Such a development may positively affect the motivation, competence, and self-directed learning of students.…”

“…The scale had an overall Cronbach’s alpha of .97; computed Cronbach’s alphas for the 15 factors ranged from .83 to .94. The factor analysis and convergent and divergent validity proved the scale’s construct validity (Ng et al, 2016).…”

“…The second part consisted of the WPDI. This instrument, by Ng et al (2016), assesses how college students perceive their holistic development in the university. The scale consists of 106 items rated on a 6-point Likert scale: 1 = strongly disagree , 2 = disagree , 3 = slightly disagree , 4 = slightly agree , 5 = agree , and 6 = strongly agree .…”

“…The scale consists of 106 items rated on a 6-point Likert scale: 1 = strongly disagree , 2 = disagree , 3 = slightly disagree , 4 = slightly agree , 5 = agree , and 6 = strongly agree . The exploratory factor analysis conducted by Ng et al (2016) revealed 15 factors, namely, civil responsibility (10 items), emotional health (11 items), cultural engagement (9 items), family relationships (8 items), intellectual capacity (10 items), art appreciation (7 items), peer relationships (8 items), community care (10 items), career preparation (6 items), moral commitment (5 items), leadership (6 items), self-appreciation (5 items), physical fitness (3 items), spiritual quest (5 items), and health maintenance (3 items). For this study, these dimensions were collapsed to form six main dimensions: intellectual, physical, professional, psychological, social, and spiritual.…”

“…These tasks are linked and act dynamically with various life events to develop an individual's wholeness and wellness. It is the basis of the Whole Person Development Inventory (WPDI), which measures six foci (intellectual, physical, professional, psychological, social, and spiritual) of undergraduate students' holistic development (Ng et al, 2016).…”