Resident Assistant Mattering: Do Placement and Community Size Matter?

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: College Student Learning and Development

Abstract

A sense of mattering among college students has been found to have positive outcomes, including lower levels of anxiety and depression, increased self-esteem, wellness, and job satisfaction. However, the feeling of mattering among Resident Assistants (RAs) has received little attention in the literature. This quantitative study collected data from 74 RAs at a large, public research university in Texas to explore the relationship between RAs’ feelings of mattering and their placement and community size. Results showed RAs in residence halls have higher levels of mattering compared to their apartment RA counterparts. There is a negative relationship between RAs’ feelings of mattering and individual community size, with RAs in smaller communities having increased mattering. Implications for future research are discussed.

Authors

• James C Stoner, University of Texas at Arlington

• Yi Leaf Zhang, University of Texas at Arlington