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SLU-Madrid Psychology Study Impact of Studying Abroad

by Isaiah Voss on 02/12/2025

02/12/2025

Last-year psychology majors' research sheds light on the effects of studying abroad on professional and personal development.

Every year hundreds of students from SLU-St. Louis and other partnership institutions study at Saint Louis University-Madrid campus. Students who pursue the entirety of their undergraduate studies at SLU-Madrid represent over 75 nationalities, adding a unique layer of international exposure.

Degree-seeking students Yelica Espinosa, Rhea Ibarra and Sena Segbefia studied the importance of international exchanges in their project, or "capstone" in psychology major terms, titled "The Impact of Studying Abroad on Career Outcomes."

"SLU-Madrid's international environment and culturally diverse campus played a huge role in shaping our capstone project," said Espinosa. "Being surrounded by students from all over the world naturally sparked an interest in how studying abroad impacts personal growth and career outcomes."

"With my experiences at both SLU's main campus and SLU-Madrid, it sparked curiosity about the impact of studying abroad on career growth and personality," said Ibarra when explaining the motivation behind the capstone.

A girl explains a psychology project to a fellow student through interactive activities at a stand with a large poster behind her.

Segbefia explains her group's capstone project to another student at the Psychology Capstone Fair in the San Ignacio Hall Student Lounge on Dec. 11, 2024. Photo by Isaiah Voss.

The group presented their findings at the Psychology Capstone Fair at the end of the Fall 2024 term. They used the Big Five personality traits, also known as "OCEAN," to analyze how the effects of studying abroad transfer into students' lives after graduation.

"OCEAN" stands for openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. In short, the three psychology students found research that supported a positive change in all trait categories.

The project showed that 80% of students achieve proficiency in a second language within a year which boosts employability. Additionally, studying abroad provides a platform to make connections that can lead to future jobs.

"I do feel like my personality aligns with our findings. Over my four years here at SLU-Madrid, I have become more open and willing to try new things as I adapt to a culture that is not my own," explained Segbefia.

"The capstone has influenced me to appreciate the career options I have been presented because of my time in Spain. Understanding how studying abroad impacts our career outcomes has allowed me to look deeper into how I can maximize the skills I've gained abroad in a work environment," she said.

Self-awareness and adaptability became common themes throughout their work and findings.

"If you're hesitant about studying at SLU-Madrid, I'd say take the leap - you won't regret it," said Espinosa.

"This experience is more than just earning a degree; it's about learning who you are in an entirely new context. The friendships you'll make, the global perspective you'll gain, and the personal growth you'll experience are priceless. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and discover what you're truly capable of."