Aspirations of Rural Adolescents across Achievement, Rurality, and Poverty

• In Event: STEM and Career and Technical Education in Rural Contexts

Abstract

Though the poverty and geographic isolation encountered by many rural youths encompass numerous developmental challenges, few studies have considered how these factors interact with achievement on future aspirations. The current study investigates the relationship between achievement, rurality, and poverty on three types of aspirations: urban/materialistic, rural, and education and job success. Participants included 1,088 junior and senior high school students. No differences were found in rural and success-oriented aspirations across the factors. However, students with greater geographic isolation or higher poverty levels showed higher urban and material aspirations. Implications are discussed.

Authors

• Dana M Sox, University of South Carolina - Columbia

• Angela D Starrett, University of South Carolina

• Matthew J. Irvin, University of South Carolina

• Christine R. Lotter, University of South Carolina

• Jan A. Yow, University of South Carolina - Columbia