Personal and Contextual Variables Predicting College Aspirations Among Latinx High School Students

Abstract

This study used path analysis to examine personal and contextual variables that hinder or foster college aspirations in Latinx high school students in the framework of social cognitive career theory (Lent et al., 1994). A total of 247 Latinx high school students from an urban high school in Southern California completed a survey that measured self-efficacy, outcome expectations, supports, and barriers to college aspirations. The findings indicate that contextual factors (supports and barriers) were better predictors of college aspirations than personal factors (self-efficacy and outcome expectations). Barriers were the biggest negative predictors, while academic performance was a positive predictor of college aspirations. Additionally, supports were the biggest predictor of personal factors. The results also suggest that personal and contextual variables were moderated by student gender and immigrant generation type. Environmental conditions affected the college aspirations of Latino males and first generation immigrants more than the college aspirations of Latina students and older generations. Implications for practice and future research are also discussed.