Examining Vulnerabilities and Protective Factors Among Latina/o Graduate Students: A Synthesis of the Literature

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Elevating Diverse Perspectives in Higher Education: Women’s Voices, Motivations, and Challenges in Career and Graduate Studies (Table 13)

Abstract

Prior reviews have documented Latina/o students’ experiences at K-12 and undergraduate levels; yet, there is a dearth of scholarship about the adversity they face and factors that contribute to their successes within graduate contexts. Guided by a resilience framework, the purpose of this systematic review is to interrogate both vulnerabilities and protective factors that Latinas/os encounter as they navigate and progress toward degree completion. Covering scholarship from 1990-2020, we identified five vulnerabilities and five protective factors. We offer guidance on ways to expand the current knowledge base through asset-based frameworks and methodologies as well as practices for institutional agents who work closely with Latina/o students.

Authors

• Oscar Patrón, Indiana University

• Osly J. Flores, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign