Developing a Family Achievement Guilt Scale Grounded in First-Generation College Student Voices

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 1553-1566
Author(s):  
Rebecca Covarrubias ◽  
Isidro Landa ◽  
Ronald Gallimore
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Student Outcomes ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Family Roles ◽  
Student Voices ◽  
First Generation College Student ◽  
The Family ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

As the first in their families to attend college, first-generation students plausibly experience family achievement guilt—socioemotional distress related to “leaving family members” to attend college. Family achievement guilt is little studied but a promising indicator of student outcomes. The present work used psychometric methods to develop the family achievement guilt scale. First-generation (46.6%) and continuing-generation (i.e., at least one parent has a 4-year degree, 53.4%) students completed a 41-item guilt measure online. Exploratory factor analysis revealed four factors, including guilt related to Leaving Family Behind, Having More Privileges, Becoming Different, and Experiencing Pressures about not being successful. The scale yielded good internal and test–retest reliability. Moreover, guilt predicted greater engagement in family roles and interdependent motives for college, even after controlling for general negative affect. In measuring guilt in psychometrically sound ways, we validate the voices of first-generation college students and alert institutions to adjust how they serve students.

Talking ‘Bout My Generation: Defining “First-Generation College Students” in Higher Education Research

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
Robert K. Toutkoushian ◽  
Robert A. Stollberg ◽  
Kelly A. Slaton
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
College Students ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
College Entrance ◽  
College Entrance Exam ◽  
Entrance Exam ◽  
First Generation College Student ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
College Educated

Background/Context There have been numerous studies conducted in the higher education literature to determine whether parental education is related to the academic plans and success of their children. Within this literature, particular emphasis is often given to children who are “first-generation college students.” However, researchers and policy makers have not reached agreement on what constitutes a first-generation college student and whether the definition affects the findings from their studies. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study In this study, we examined whether the way in which first-generation college status was defined affected its association with the likelihood of a student going to college. We used data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:02), which is a nationally representative longitudinal sample of 10th-grade students in 2002 who were followed up in 2004, 2006, and 2012. Research Design We used binary and multinomial logistic regression analysis to examine how first-generation college status, as well as other personal, family, and school characteristics, were associated with whether a student took a college entrance exam, applied to college, and enrolled in college. For this study, we constructed eight different definitions of a first-generation college student. The definitions varied with regard to the level of education needed for a parent to be considered “college educated” and the number of parents meeting the education criteria. Conclusions/Recommendations Our results showed that the connection between first-generation college status and these three outcomes varied depending on how first-generation college status was defined. In general, we found larger deficits for first-generation college students when neither parent was college educated and when college educated was defined as earning a bachelor's degree or higher. First-generation college students faced the largest deficits for enrolling in college, and smaller (but often significant) deficits for taking a college entrance exam and applying to college. The results imply that researchers should be very specific about how they are defining first-generation college status and should determine whether their findings are sensitive to how the variable was defined.

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Retention in First-Generation College Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian S. Pratt ◽  
Hunter B. Harwood ◽  
Jenel T. Cavazos ◽  
Christopher P. Ditzfeld
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Student Survey ◽  
First Generation College Student ◽  
Campus Environment ◽  
Cultural Fit ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
First Generation College

The current project uses our university’s new student survey to compare previously reported trends in first-generation college student (FGCS) retention with those found on our campus and discusses potential directions for future research and intervention programs. Consistent with previous research, our data showed that financial concerns were a particularly strong predictor of freshman-to-sophomore retention. FGCS reported that they were significantly more concerned about money and expected to maintain employment throughout their college career at higher rates. This emphasis on work reduces the amount of time FGCS engage in college-related activities and hinders their feeling of connection with their peers. For example, our FGCS expected to encounter more difficulty performing well academically, fitting into the campus environment, and making new friends than non-FGCS students. Our future research agenda extends these findings to other aspects of campus life, examining issues such as cultural fit, family ties, and university inclusiveness.

First-Generation College Students’ Persistence Intentions in Engineering Majors

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patton O. Garriott ◽  
Rachel L. Navarro ◽  
Lisa Y. Flores
Keyword(s):  
Parental Support ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Outcome Expectations ◽  
Physiological Arousal ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Engineering Majors ◽  
First Generation College Student ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
First Generation College

This study examined the relationship between parental support, engineering-related (realistic/investigative themed) learning experiences, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and persistence intentions in a sample of first-generation college student (FGCS) engineering majors ( N = 130). Parental support was assessed at the conclusion of an academic year and modeled as a predictor of other engineering-related variables assessed a year later using the social cognitive career theory framework. Results showed that parental support predicted realistic/investigative-themed verbal persuasion and vicarious learning, while realistic/investigative-themed performance accomplishments and physiological arousal predicted engineering self-efficacy. Realistic/investigative performance accomplishments also predicted outcome expectations. Self-efficacy and outcome expectations were predictors of engineering persistence intentions. Contrary to expectations, self-efficacy did not significantly predict outcome expectations. Mediation analyses revealed that the relationships of realistic/investigative-themed performance accomplishments and physiological arousal to persistence intentions were explained by self-efficacy. Results are discussed in terms of increasing retention of FGCS in engineering.

Conclusion

Kids at Work ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 147-160
Author(s):  
Emir Estrada
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Family Work ◽  
Street Vending ◽  
Work Relations ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family ◽  
First Generation College

The conclusion tackles an important and controversial question rooted in our normative and privileged notions of childhood life: Should children work to help support the family? In answering this question, the conclusion shows how the social construction of childhood defined as a period of freedom and play has been cemented in the minds of people for almost a century. Even the families interviewed for this book struggled to see their family work arrangement as “normal” and fully acceptable to others. This chapter returns to the initial queries about childhood, family work relations, intergenerational family dynamics, and ethnic entrepreneurship and asks more questions for future research, keeping as a core analysis the role of children as economic contributors in the family beyond the street vending occupation. Kids at Work, in a way, also tells the story of many more first-generation college students of diverse racial backgrounds who did not have “normal” childhoods because they too had to work to help the family.

Perspectives From a First-Generation College Student: Reflections on the Value of Mentoring Relationships

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen E. Ortega
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
College Student ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
First Generation College Student ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
Student Reflections

In this Career Development commentary, the author highlights the value of tailored mentoring and experiential learning from the perspective of a first-generation college student. University faculty and practitioners in diverse settings have the opportunity to mentor emerging public health professionals but may not have experience mentoring first-generation college students. We hope that this commentary encourages our readers to reflect on mentoring strategies, opportunities, and benefits for first-generation college students.

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