Date Approved

2008

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department or School

Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

Committee Member

Donna Killingbeck, PhD, Chair

Committee Member

Robert Orrange, PhD

Abstract

Parental support among first generation college students is largely understudied. While some argue that many parents lack necessary information and knowledge to help their children succeed while in college, this work argues that parents of first generation college students contribute a large amount of emotional support towards their children while in college. There are several benefits of receiving a high degree of emotional support, one of which is constructing a potential buffer against identity threat that many first generation college students face while on campus. Through eleven case studies, this work examines the roles of parental support of first generation college students as well as both parents’ and participants’ views of college.

Included in

Sociology Commons

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