Influence of College STEM Program Participation on Persistence Among First-Generation Engineering Students.

Using data from 473 first-generation college students (FGCS) in engineering, the study tested a social cognitive career theory (SCCT) model of persistence and examines model invariance by participation in college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. Data from two survey...

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Published in:Counseling Psychologist Vol. 53; no. 5; pp. 700 - 732
Main Authors: Diaz, David, Lee, Bo Hyun, Lee, JinKoo, Breske, Michael P., Garriott, Patton O., Lee, Hang-Shim, Navarro, Rachel L., Flores, Lisa Y.
Format: Article
Published: Sage Publications Inc. Jul2025
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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          Diaz, David
          Lee, Bo Hyun
          Lee, JinKoo
          Breske, Michael P.
          Garriott, Patton O.
          Lee, Hang-Shim
          Navarro, Rachel L.
          Flores, Lisa Y.
        affil:
          University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
          Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
          Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
          Department of Counseling, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
          Department of Counseling Psychology, Education, Health & Behavior, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
      su:
        Self-efficacy
        Universities & colleges
        Evaluation of human services programs
        Empirical research
        Goal (Psychology)
        Psychology
        Psychology of college students
        Sociodemographic factors
        Student attitudes
        Vocational guidance
        Cognition
        Research funding
        Engineering
        Structural equation modeling
        Descriptive statistics
        Surveys
        Intention
        Theory
        Data analysis software
      sug:
        subj:
          Self-efficacy
          Universities & colleges
          Evaluation of human services programs
          Empirical research
          Goal (Psychology)
          Psychology
          Psychology of college students
          Sociodemographic factors
          Student attitudes
          Vocational guidance
          Cognition
          Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
          Vocational Rehabilitation Services
          Research funding
          Engineering
          Structural equation modeling
          Descriptive statistics
          Surveys
          Intention
          Theory
          Data analysis software
      keyword:
        college STEM program
        engineering
        first-generation college students
        persistence
        social cognitive career theory
        college STEM program
        engineering
        first-generation college students
        persistence
        social cognitive career theory
      ab: Using data from 473 first-generation college students (FGCS) in engineering, the study tested a social cognitive career theory (SCCT) model of persistence and examines model invariance by participation in college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. Data from two survey waves collected 1 year apart were analyzed with structural equation modeling. Results supported a temporal pathway from engineering self-efficacy to lower negative outcome expectations and a cross-sectional link between persistence intention goals and observed persistence behaviors. The hypothesized temporal effect of negative outcome expectations on persistence goals was not supported. Multigroup analyses indicated that FGCS who participated in STEM support programs required lower levels of persistence intentions to persist compared with nonparticipants, suggesting such programs reduce the threshold needed to translate intentions into behavior. Findings underscore the role of self-efficacy in shaping expectations over time and highlight STEM support programs as scalable levers to promote FGCS persistence in engineering.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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