A Latent Growth Modeling Analysis of the Effects of Perceived Supports, Perceived Barriers, and Coping Efficacy on Latina/o Engineering Students’ Life Satisfaction

Abstract

Using latent growth modeling (LGM) procedures, this study tested a model of Latina/o engineering students’ life satisfaction based on Lent and Brown’s social cognitive well-being model with a sample of 342 Latina/o engineering students attending a Hispanic-serving institution. Participants completed measures of perceived supports, perceived barriers, and coping efficacy at 3 points, each approximately 1 year apart, and life satisfaction at Time 3. The results indicated that perceived supports, perceived barriers, and coping efficacy changed across time. Specifically, perceived supports and coping efficacy decreased and perceived barriers increased over time. Individual differences were found in the growth patterns of these constructs, with participants with low perceived supports and coping efficacy at Time 1 demonstrating more decrease and those with low perceived barriers at Time 1 demonstrating more increase in these variables over time. In the multivariate LGM analysis, the proposed model fit the data, but only partial support was found for the relations among the variables. Specifically, high perceived barriers were negatively related to low coping efficacy, high perceived supports were positively related to high coping efficacy, and high coping efficacy was positively related to high life satisfaction. However, coping efficacy did not mediate the relations between supports and barriers to life satisfaction. Finally, growth in perceived barriers was negatively related to the decline of coping efficacy. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

The Mediating Role of Engagement on the Achievement and Quality of Life of University Students

“…Some point to a relationship between life satisfaction and academic achievement [ 6 ], while others do not support this correlation [ 7 ]. However, life satisfaction is related to other variables, such as perceived academic ability, positive attitudes towards school, and school appreciation [ 8 ].…”

Broadening the Participation of Latinx in Engineering: Highlights from a National, Longitudinal Study

“…Across these studies, we found that (a) SCCT predictors accounted for a significant amount of the variance in academic satisfaction and persistence, (b) self-efficacy and social supports were especially important in academic satisfaction and persistence, and (c) relations among the SCCT variables were generally consistent across Latinxs and Whites, suggesting that educational interventions would be equally effective for these students [16][17][18][19][20][21]. However, when we examined the data of Latinx students only across three time points, each a year apart, results of a latent growth modeling analysis indicated that Latinxs showed decreases in perceived social supports and coping efficacy and increases in perceived barriers across time, suggesting that long-term efforts are needed to support Latinx engineering students across their time in college [22]. Further, our prior project found that the effects of the four learning experiences (i.e., performance accomplishments, vicarious learning, verbal persuasion, physiological arousal) varied depending on the domain (i.e., Realistic or Investigative) and construct (self-efficacy or positive outcome expectations) for Latinx engineering students attending a single HSI [16].…”

Latinx career psychology: Work and vocational development of Latinx individuals.

“…Martinez & Castellanos, 2018;McWhirter et al, 2013McWhirter et al, , 2014. Research has consistently suggested the important role of self-efficacy, ethnic identity, and cultural factors on Latinx college students' academic outcomes (Flores et al, 2010(Flores et al, , 2017(Flores et al, , 2020Flores, Navarro, Lee, Addae, et al, 2014;Hunt et al, 2016;Johnson et al, 2016;H. S. Lee et al, 2015;Mejia-Smith & Gushue, 2017;Navarro et al, 2014Navarro et al, , 2019Ojeda et al, 2011;Piña-Watson et al, 2014).…”