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Explaining the negative impact of financial concern on undergraduates’ academic outcomes: evidence for stress and belonging as mediators

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posted on 2023-06-09, 19:25 authored by Matthew Reid, Donna JessopDonna Jessop, Eleanor MilesEleanor Miles
Poorer financial circumstances among undergraduate students predict worse academic outcomes, yet there is a lack of research examining mediators. Accordingly, the present research aimed to identify such mediating variables. In Study 1, cross-sectional data were collected from UK undergraduates (N = 516). Controlling for background variables, path analysis indicated that stress, sense of belonging at university, working memory, and self-control mediated the negative relationship between financial concern and academic performance. In Study 2 an independent sample (N = 2794) was used to successfully validate the respecified model developed in Study 1. Additionally, longitudinal data were collected from UK undergraduates (N = 453) at three time points in an academic year. Controlling for background variables, financial concern predicted subsequent changes in intrinsic academic motivation, as mediated by changes in stress and sense of belonging at university. Together, this provides consistent evidence for stress and belonging as mediators of the impact of finances on academic outcomes. Our findings afford a more complete understanding of how financial concern may affect students’ experience at university, highlight potential negative consequences of funding systems that place a financial burden on students, and could serve to inform interventions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of financial concern.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Journal of Further and Higher Education

ISSN

0309-877X

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Issue

9

Volume

44

Page range

1157-1187

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2019-10-23

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-04-02

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2019-10-21

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