Friday, April 25, 2008
Academic and non-academic factors as predictors of academic outcomes for Latino and Asian American college students.
Anita Mihecoby
The current study explored the effect of academic (academic motivation & degree goals) and non-academic (caretaking, chores, & hours worked) predictors on GPA of 268 Latino (71 male, 197 female) and 177 Asian American college freshmen (72 male, 108 female). Mean age was 18.07 years (SD = 1.72).
Results showed that Latino students had significantly higher academic motivation, degree goal, and non-academic responsibilities compared to Asian American students. Non-academic responsibilities negatively predicted GPA for the overall sample and among the Latino students. Only among Asian American students, high degree goal positively predicted GPA. SES was also a positive predictor of GPA for the overall sample, and for Asian American students.
The lower academic performance for some Latinos may be partially due to a competing demand to assist the family (Fuligni, 1999) and the need to work to support themselves for their family.
Reference:
Fuligni, A. J., Tseng, V., & Lam, M. (1999). Attitudes towards family obligations among American adolescents with Asian, Latin American, and European American backgrounds. Child Development, 70, 1030-1044.
Department website: http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/psych/html/deptmenu.htm