Abstract
Predicting attrition risk among college students is complex due to the diversity of factors that influence students’ thoughts about leaving. Sense of belonging has been established as a protective factor buffering attrition risk among students of color. Similar constructs such as equity and respect are also theorized to buffer attrition risk. This study seeks to better understand the relationships between equity, belonging, respect, and attrition risk among women of color when risk of attrition is measured using students’ thoughts of leaving their university due to feelings of isolation. Logistic regression models were used to examine if sense of belonging, equity, and respect predicted attrition risk among female students of color at a large Midwestern university. Results indicate belonging, equity, respect, and one to two experiences of racism alone are associated with decreased odds of attrition risk. However, when frequent racial discrimination or intersectional discrimination are reported, women of color have increased odds of attrition risk. When discrimination is held constant, equity and belonging were the strongest buffers of attrition risk for Black women while respect was the strongest buffer for Hispanic women. Asian American women’s risk of attrition was not well predicted by equity or respect. Interventions to increase student retention among women of color may be bolstered if they include elements that foster environments capable of increasing equity, respect, and inclusion across intersecting salient identities.
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
College students, Belonging, Equity, Respect, Intersectionality
