DIGITAL LIBRARY
ESTABLISHING A PSYCHOSOCIAL PROFILE AND CORRELATES OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG SOUTH AFRICAN FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS
University of the Western Cape (SOUTH AFRICA)
About this paper:
Appears in: EDULEARN19 Proceedings
Publication year: 2019
Pages: 5272-5280
ISBN: 978-84-09-12031-4
ISSN: 2340-1117
doi: 10.21125/edulearn.2019.1294
Conference name: 11th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies
Dates: 1-3 July, 2019
Location: Palma, Spain
Abstract:
Transformation in education policy following the establishment of a democratic South Africa has resulted in a marked increase of first-generation students in our higher education institutions. First generation students are students whose parents did not obtain a tertiary qualification. First generation students have been found to experience a range of challenges including financial stress, poor social support, isolation and marginalization, cultural adaptation challenges, and greater family and work responsibilities, to name a few.

However, there is limited literature in this area in developing countries like South Africa. This project aimed to address this gap in the literature.

A cross-sectional survey was used to identify barriers and facilitators to participation, retention, and success in higher education. Both first-generation and non-first generation students (N = 482) completed a demographic questionnaire covering a broad range of variables, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ 12), and the General Self-efficacy Scale. In addition, academic performance information was collected from participants. Statistical analyses will be focused on obtaining descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including correlations and regression analyses.
Keywords:
First-generation status, first-generation students, higher education, academic performance, academic challenges, psychosocial challenges, social challenges, psychosocial needs, attrition, degree completion/throughput.