Belonging and Intent to Persist in First-Year First-Generation College Students

Abstract

The purpose of this quantitative research was to understand how students at a regional university with a high population of first-generation students experience a sense of belonging and its relationship to intent to persist in their first year of college, as well as potential impacts the COVID-19 pandemic had on their experiences. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The research questions were: 1) To what extent does sense of belonging predict intent to persist?; 2) What is the relationship between generational status and sense of belonging and intent to persist, specifically: a) to what extent does generational status predict sense of belonging? and b) does sense of belonging mediate the relationship between generational status and intent to persist?; 3) Do any of the COVID-19 variables predict sense of belonging and intent to persist?; and 4) Is there a difference in first-generation and non-first-generation students’ responses to the COVID-19 variables? Results indicated sense of belonging is a significant predictor of intent to persist, although there were no statistically significant differences based on generational status. Other significant findings include a statistically significant higher sense of belonging among full-time students in comparison to part-time students. The COVID-19 variables demonstrated a predictive relationship to sense of belonging and intent to persist. Interestingly, first-generation students reported higher perceptions of institutional support than their non-first-generation peers. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, as well as limitations and directions for future research.