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Belonging and adjustment for LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ students during the social transition to university

Bibliographic Data

ID12975685
AuthorsValerie A Sotardi (0000-0002-2720-6362, University of Canterbury, corresponding author), Nicola Surtees (0000-0003-1356-7885, University of Canterbury), K Vincent (0000-0003-4982-2788, University of Canterbury), Hamish Johnston (University of Canterbury)
Year2021
Volume15
Issue6
Pages755-765
Publication date2021-03-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Diversity in Higher Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1938-8934 • E-ISSN: 1938-8926
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/dhe0000305
OpenAlexW3137909185
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited22

The transition to university can be challenging not only for the general student population but also for LGBTQ+ students, whose social experiences may be particularly demanding.In the current research, we explore first-year students' perceptions of belonging and social adjustment by (a) estimating whether such perceptions relate to achievement motivation, well-being, and academic performance, and (b) identifying whether these trends differ for LGBTQ+ students.First-year students from one public university in New Zealand (n = 896) completed a questionnaire to report their early experiences in higher education.Grade Point Average (GPA) was provided by the institution.Results using descriptive statistics and regression-based, moderation models offer empirical support that belongingness and social adjustment have the potential to impact first-year students in meaningful ways, and that some of these patterns vary between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ students.Individuals who reported institutional belonging and felt as though they had adjusted well to university also reported high levels of achievement motivation and well-being.Meanwhile, individuals who reported peer belonging were linked to weaker achievement motivation yet a higher GPA.Our results introduce new evidence that although LGBTQ+ students reported relatively poorer well-being, they experienced relatively more enjoyment and less boredom in their classes.Interactions from moderation testing reveal that the statistical predictions of belongingness and social adjustment for academic self-efficacy and subjective well-being differed between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ students.We discuss the practical implications of our results and identify ways for higher educational institutions to support first-year students

Homosexuality · Human sexuality · Lesbian · Queer · Sexual identity · Sexual orientation · Sociology · Transition (genetics · Gender Studies · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Psychology

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Unique citing works11
Citations per year5,5
Citation span2024 - 2026 (3)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 11
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