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Article
On Campus Social Support and Hope as Unique Predictors of Perceived Ability to Persist in College
Journal of College Student Retention: Research Theory & Practice
  • Deanna D'Amico, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
  • Veronica Fruiht, Dominican University of California
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-15-2018
Disciplines
Department
Psychology
Abstract

The psychological construct of hope, characterized by goal-directed thinking rooted in personal agency and the ability to develop pathways to achieve goals, has long been demonstrated to predict academic success. A sample of 994 undergraduates participated in this study to better understand the role of hope and on-campus social support in predicting students’ perceived ability to persist and succeed in college. Results demonstrated that on-campus support, particularly from teachers and professors, significantly predicted academic outcomes and hope. In addition, we found evidence of a support gap in which students from underrepresented ethnic minorities were far more likely to report that they had no support from educators on campus. Findings demonstrate the need for more research on the role of social support in developing hope in college students and highlight the value of encouraging meaningful relationships between students and faculty on campus.

Rights

© The Author(s) 2018

Citation Information
Deanna D'Amico and Veronica Fruiht. "On Campus Social Support and Hope as Unique Predictors of Perceived Ability to Persist in College" Journal of College Student Retention: Research Theory & Practice (2018) p. 1 - 22 ISSN: 1521-0251
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/veronica-fruiht/14/