Examining Sense of Belonging Among First-Year Undergraduates From Different Racial/Ethnic Groups

TLDR

The study examined sense of belonging among a national sample of 2,967 first‑year students. Using Hurtado and Carter’s framework, the authors investigated how various aspects of the college environment relate to students’ sense of belonging. African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian Pacific American students reported a weaker sense of belonging than White/Caucasian peers, and social transition, residence‑hall climate, and campus racial climate were strongly associated with belonging.

Abstract

This study examined sense of belonging among a national sample of 2,967 first-year students. Guided by the work of Hurtado and Carter (1997), relationships between several aspects of the college environment and sense of belonging were examined. Findings indicated that African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian Pacific American students reported a less strong sense of belonging than White/Caucasian students. The social dimensions of the transition to college and residence hall climate and perceptions of the campus racial climate had strong significant relationships to students' sense of belonging. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.