Mediation of Psychosocial Outcomes in a College Transition Program for Low-Income Students

• In Event: New Methods and Applications in Causal Mediation: Identifying the Mechanisms Behind Intervention Outcomes

Abstract

We study student participation in a college program combining academic, social, and financial supports in order to identify mediators of meaningful psychosocial outcomes. The mediators considered are interactions with (nonprogram) peers and faculty in the broader campus environment. Participants (N = 450) were randomly assigned to the program at three Midwestern public universities. Using a multiple-mediator model, structural equation modelling is used to estimate mediational paths among treatment and latent variables. Preliminary results indicate program participants interacted more with nonprogram faculty (p < .01) but not nonprogram peers. Peer interactions involving coursework are positively associated with sense of mattering and academic and social self-efficacy (p < .001). Though some direct path estimates are significant, indirect path estimates are not significant.

Authors

• W. Edward Chi, University of Southern California

• Minjeong Jeon, University of California at Los Angeles

• Elizabeth Park, University of Southern California

• Tatiana Melguizo, University of Southern California

• Adrianna Kezar, University of Southern California