Publication Date
Spring 4-16-2025
Presentation Length
15 minutes
College
College of Sciences & Mathematics
Department
Psychological Science, Department of
Student Level
Undergraduate
SPARK Category
Research
Faculty Advisor
Abigail Heller
SPARK Session
Developmental Psychopathology 1 or 2 (Heller)
Presentation Type
Talk/Oral
Summary
As higher education institutions work to diversify and expand their student populations, one topic that requires ongoing consideration is retention rates. First-generation college students make up a significant portion of undergraduate classes (Skomsvald, 2015); however, they are also the population least likely to see their degrees to completion (Radunzel, 2021). This suggests there may be barriers keeping these students from collegiate success, which we predicted to be loneliness and a lack of student engagement (Barreto et al., 2021; Peplau & Perlman, 1982). This study investigated several predictors of student engagement via loneliness in first-generation college students. First-generation college students (N = 85; Mage = 30.64) completed an online survey measuring demographics, emotional intelligence, extraversion, neuroticism, community involvement, loneliness, social-self compassion, and higher education student engagement. Loneliness was not a significant mediator in any of the models tested. Future researchers should examine other possible predictors of loneliness and/or student engagement in first-generation students to further understand ways to increase retention rates for such students.
Recommended Citation
Cousino, Kya and Hammarstrom, Paige, "Preventing Loneliness and Increasing Student Engagement in First-Generation College Students" (2025). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 294.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/294
