Sense of Belonging as a Predictor of Intentions to Persist Among African American and White First-Year College Students |
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Authors: | Leslie R M Hausmann Janet Ward Schofield and Rochelle L Woods |
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Institution: | (1) Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive C (151C-U), Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA;(2) Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;(3) Office of Multicultural Initiatives, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA |
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Abstract: | This study investigates the role of students’ sense of belonging to their university in college student retention. Using individual
growth curve modeling, we examined (a) whether sense of belonging predicts intentions to persist, and (b) the effects of an
intervention designed to enhance students’ sense of belonging. African American and white first-year students completed surveys
three times throughout the academic year. Students were randomly assigned to a group that received an intervention to enhance
students’ sense of belonging or to one of two control groups. Sense of belonging was found to predict intentions to persist,
controlling for background variables and other predictors of persistence. Overall, sense of belonging and intentions to persist
declined over the academic year. However, the decline in sense of belonging was smaller for students in the intervention group.
Implications for the development of college retention programs and for existing models of student persistence are discussed. |
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Keywords: | sense of belonging persistence intentions intervention |
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