Facets of family achievement guilt for low-income, Latinx and Asian first-generation students

Bibliographic Data

ID12475275
AuthorsRebecca Covarrubias (0000-0002-9943-8496, University of California, Santa Cruz, corresponding author), Fabiana De Oliveira Lima (0000-0002-6114-9242, University of California, Santa Cruz), Fabiana De Lima (0000-0002-8066-5656), Ishay Landa (0000-0002-3139-6023, Washington University in St. Louis), Ibette Valle (0000-0003-1016-3682, University of California, Santa Cruz), Wilfrido Hernandez Flores (University of California, Santa Cruz)
Year2021
Volume27
Issue4
Pages696-704
Publication date2021-07-15
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1099-9809 • E-ISSN: 1939-0106
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/cdp0000418
PMID34264708
OpenAlexW3179011786
LanguageEN
Citations received8

Objectives: For many low-income, Latinx and Asian first-generation students, family is a central motivator for obtaining a college degree. Yet, striving for upward mobility yields unanticipated psychological consequences. Specifically, family achievement guilt is a socioemotional experience related to "leaving family" to attend college. As a relatively understudied phenomenon, prior work has likely underrepresented the ways low-income, Latinx and Asian first-generation students experience guilt in the university. To address this gap, the current study aimed to refine the concept of family achievement guilt by exploring its different facets. Method: We utilized in-depth, semistructured interviews with 34 low-income, Latinx and Asian first-generation students. Results: Using both inductive and deductive analytic methods, we constructed four facets of guilt. Participants shared feeling guilt related to leaving family behind, having more privileges in the university context, becoming culturally different than family members, and experiencing financial distress. Conclusions: Unpacking family achievement guilt experiences of a fast-growing student population contributes to our understanding of theory and of possible support mechanisms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Academic achievement · Asian americans · Developmental psychology · Economic growth · Ethnic group · Family income · Low income · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Clinical Psychology · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology

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