Longitudinal Associations Between Sense of Belonging, Student Identity, and Peer Friendships for Latinx College Students

• In Event: Diverse Postsecondary Student Learning and Experiences

Abstract

Sense of belonging has been linked to college success for students of color, yet research is lacking on social and identity factors that contribute to sense of belonging over time. The present study follows Latinx college students (N=77) between 2020 and 2021 to examine relationships between sense of belonging, perceived peer support, college friendships, and subjective importance of an identity as a college student. The results of cross-lagged panel models indicate that the percent of students’ friends attending the same college and the centrality of student identity predicted later sense of belonging, but sense of belonging did not predict either. Percent of friends and peer support reciprocally predicted each other over time, but were unrelated to centrality of student identity.

Author

• Christopher Wegemer, University of California - Los Angeles
  Presenting Author