The purpose of the study was to measure the relationship between aspirations, level of enculturation, and psychological well-being of Latino students in an Adventist University setting. There is little information on the aspirations of Latino college students and the relationship between those aspirations with both enculturation and well-being. The sample consisted of 39 students from Southern Adventist University. Of the 39 participants, the majority were male (n = 22). Fifteen of the participants stated that they held first generation immigrant status, 22 held second generation immigrant status, and two held third generation status. The design of this study was a non-experimental study using survey methodology as a means of data collection. This study used the Barrientos Aspirations of Latino Young Adults (BALYA) survey. The results indicated that there was a strong relationship between GPA and aspiration levels (r(38) = .55, p = .000, r2 = 30.25%), and between well-being and GPA (r(39) = .384, p = .016). Additionally, the mean aspiration level for students of a mixed background was higher than students with exclusively North American/Central American Latino backgrounds and exclusively South American/European Latino backgrounds; the differences were statistically significant (F(2,26) = 5.16, p = .011).
Methods
Conclusions
Aspirations, Enculturation, and Well-Being of Latino Young Adults
Fernando Barrientos
Department of Psychology, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, TN 37315, USA
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Agenda for Future Research
Participants: Thirty-nine Latino undergraduate students from Southern Adventist University were obtained for this study. Of the participants, the majority were male (n = 22), 26 identified as North American/Central American, eight classified as South American/ European, five were classified as mix/other. Fifteen of the participants stated that they held first generation immigrant status, 22 held second generation immigrant status, and two held third generation status.
Procedures: The design of this study was a non-experimental study using survey methodology as a means of data collection. The researcher approached students in public areas on campus such as: the cafeteria, the library, and the student center. The researcher also sat at a table in the student center on campus with a sign saying “Latinos & Latinas wanted.” The researcher then asked the students whether or not they were Latinos. If the students answered yes, consent forms were presented before the survey.
Materials: The students were then given the Barrientos Aspirations Survey of Latino Young Adults (BALYA). The BALYA survey had 63 questions. The section measuring enculturation (13 items) yielded a Cronbach’s alpha of α = .86. The section measuring psychological well-being (18 items) yielded a Cronbach’s alpha of α = .75. The section measuring aspirations (24 items) yielded a Cronbach’s alpha of α = .81. Other than the items requesting demographic information, the researcher used a five-point Likert scale for the subscale item responses. The enculturation subscale examined the Spanish/Portuguese or English interactions with media, family, and friends. The well-being subscale examined the presence of depressive symptoms and healthy mental outlook. The aspirations subscale examined the interactions between a positive educational experience and a desire to excel.
Subscale item examples:
Hypotheses
Research Questions
Major Findings:
Male and female Latino students, on average, have almost identical levels of aspiration.
There was a small positive trend between enculturation and well-being for the sample as a whole
Greater GPA leads to higher levels of aspirations for Latino students and Southern Adventist University.
Latino students from North American/Central American nationalities scored slightly higher well-being and aspiration levels.
Female Latino students have higher levels of psychological well-being
First-generation students have higher aspirations but lower psychological well-being than second-generation students.
Implications:
This study could provide information on the college experience of the Latino population.
The study could inform on the population of Latinos who are currently in Adventist colleges.
It is possible that the information on those in college could also help understand the motivations and expectations of Latino young adults who are not attending colleges.
Many students stated that they liked having Latino friends and being a part of the group, but they also like the ethnic diversity experienced at SAU.
A few of the items in the BALYA survey can be altered to adjust to the ethnic diversity of the university
Introduction
Results
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Abstract
The Latin American immigrant population is one of the fastest growing populations in the United States, and it is estimated that Latin American immigrants will account for 25% of the total population by the year 2050 (Roger-Sirin & Gupta, 2012). Between the years 1991 and 2001, there was an increase of 867,000 Latino students attending college to 1.4 million, a 75% increase (Crockett, Iturbide, Torres Stone, McGinley, Raffaelli, & Carlo, 2007). Regardless, the graduation rates continue to be smaller than those of other minority groups (Phinney, Dennis, & Osorio, 2006). The purpose of the study was to measure the relationship between aspirations, level of enculturation, and psychological wellbeing of Latino students in an Adventist University setting.
Hypotheses
Four hypotheses were tested in their null form:
1. The first hypothesis is that greater levels of enculturation will result in greater aspirations and expectations in the male Latino group.
2. The second hypothesis is that female Latino college students will pursue greater aspirations than male Latino college students.
3. The third hypothesis is that higher levels of enculturation will result in higher levels of psychological well-being for the entire sample of Latino Seventh-day Adventist university students.
4. The fourth hypothesis is that achievement level will positively correlate with aspiration levels.
Research Questions
This study was guided by four research questions:
1. Do students of South American origins have higher aspiration levels than students from Mexican and Central American origins?
2. Do students from South American origins have greater levels psychological well-being than from Mexican and Central American origins?
3. Are there gender differences in psychological well-being?
4. What is the relationship between generation status, aspiration level, and psychological well-being
Subscale Score Legend | |||
Scale | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
Aspirations | 24-56 | 57-88 | 89-120 |
Well-being | 18-42 | 43-66 | 67-90 |
Enculturation | 57-65 | 35-56 | 13-34 |
In the future, shortening the instrument would be beneficial because multiple students expressed interest, but the length of the instrument discouraged them from participating. This study included a sample of convenience, but the time limit placed on data collection limited the size of the sample; thus limiting the external validity of the study. This is illustrated by the third-generation group participants. The instruments could also include having relationships with people of other ethnicities besides American because the SAU student population is very diverse. Obtaining samples from both public universities and Christian universities could provide information on the differences between the Christian-based university Latino population and the public university Latino population. That is, do Christian university Latino students have higher levels of aspirations and well-being than Latinos who attend public universities? To answer that question, it is possible to compare the results of the SAU population to nearby colleges and universities.
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