The Impact of Psychological Capital on the Academic Achievement of Underserved Community College Students

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Applied Research in the Community College

Publication Date

2024

Comments

Published in: Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, vol. 31, issue 2, 2024.

Abstract

Community colleges are a vital part of U. S. higher education, especially considering the number of nontraditional and underserved students they serve. These students often face unique, additional barriers and challenges to their academic success. This study investigated which factors can positively impact the well-being of students in this population as well as their overall academic success. Specifically, we were interested in psychological capital (PsyCap) and its relationship to community college student success. We hypothesized that the PsyCap of first-generation college students; Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) college students; and low-income college students (as defined by Pell Eligibility) would positively impact their academic achievement. Students were given the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), and relevant demographic data were gathered. A multiple regression analysis showed that higher PsyCap had a positive relationship with student GPA; however, individual student characteristics influenced GPA as well. Limitations, policy recommendations, and future directions are also presented.

Volume

31

Issue

2

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