An exploration of protective factors for first generation college students: Grit, growth mindset, cultural congruity, and parental encouragement

First generation college students (FGCS) experience greater adversity in the transition to higher education than their peers, often resulting in higher dropout rates for this group (Chen, 2005). Although many studies have examined the ways in which FGCS are behind their peers when they arrive at college, no research has studied a number of protective factors that have known relevance for those combating adverse circumstances. The purpose of this study was to examine whether or not grit, growth mindset, cultural congruity, and parental encouragement are protective for FGCS, such that they are more strongly associated with positive college outcomes for FGCS than for continuing generation college students (CGCS). Our findings suggest that cultural congruity is an important construct for predicting college adjustment for FGCS. These results suggest that, for FGCS, it is beneficial to establish an optimal balance of adapting to the norms of college while simultaneously maintaining the integrity of their culture. Future studies should continue to examine the impact of cultural congruity on college outcomes in larger samples of FGCS in order to determine how to best interpret research results for future intervention efforts.