"What's the Point of...Getting a Degree?" Academic Motivation Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Learning and Motivation in College During COVID-19 Pandemic From Human Development

Abstract

Considering they are crucial for human functioning, meeting basic needs during a crisis is imperative. The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately impacting minoritized communities. However, we know less regarding disparities in psychological wellbeing during pandemics. This study tests a) the association between sense of belonging and motivation during COVID-19, and b) whether this association varies by social identities. College students (N=143) reported their sense of belonging and motivation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings indicate sense of belonging is associated with motivation. This association did not vary by social identities quantitatively but varied in qualitative analyses. Findings provide initial evidence that the association between sense of belonging and motivation exists in different ways based on social identities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authors

• Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

• Ananya Tiwari, Texas A&M University

• Bethany Fleming Hoff, Seattle Pacific University