Ethnic identity, perceived social support, coping strategies, university environment, cultural congruity, and resilience of Latina/o college students

by 1979- Orozco, Veronica

The literature on resilience suggests that despite personal, cultural, and environmental challenges, many students do succeed academically. However, few studies have investigated resilience or factors that foster it among Latino college students. Accordingly, this study examined the variables of ethnic identity, perceived social support from family, friends, and a significant other, coping strategies, university environment, and cultural congruity to determine their relation to the resilience of 150 Latina/o college students. The participants were 72 males and 78 females from a large Midwestern, predominantly white institution (PWI). Participants completed a survey packet that included a demographic questionnaire, the Revised Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Student Coping Scale, University Environment Scale, Cultural Congruity Scale, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The results showed that ethnic identity, familial, friend, and significant other support, coping strategies, university environment, and cultural congruity accounted for 51% of the variance in measured resilience. These findings are discussed in relation to the existing resilience literature and implications for future research are noted. ii Dedicado a mi padre Federico, mis hermanos Federico Jr., Valentin, Miguel, Lorenzo, mi hermana Laura, y en memoria de mi madre Ignacia, una mujer que conoció mi pasión y creyó en mí. iii