First-Generation College Students’ Perceived Barriers and Career Outcome Expectations: Exploring Contextual and Cognitive Factors

Abstract

The current study explores contextual factors that contribute to the linkage between perceived barriers and career outcome expectations of first-generation college students (FGCS). The authors tested how FGCS’ sense of coherence, social support from family, peers, and a special person, as well as their sense of campus connectedness mediate or moderate the effect of perceived educational and career barriers on their vocational outcome expectations. Participants were 153 ethnically diverse FGCS attending public universities. Moderation analysis indicated that campus connectedness was a significant moderator—for FGCS who experience low or average level of campus connectedness, higher levels of barriers are associated with more negative career outcome expectations. Mediation analysis supported that the relationship between perceived barriers and career outcome expectations was mediated by sense of coherence. None of the other social support variables were statistically significant as a moderator. Implications for future research and program development are discussed.

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