The Tether to Home, University Connectedness, and the Appalachian Student

Abstract

The purpose of the studies reported here was to test the hypothesis that college students from cultures that emphasize strong family ties experience familial tethering or a pull to remain connected to home, which then has negative consequences on the student’s ability to connect to and succeed at the university. In Study 1, it was found that students of Appalachian origin, women, and students from large families were more likely to report pressure from their families to return home frequently and less connection to and more isolation from the university. An expanded assessment of familial tethering which measured social, externalized, and ecological tethering was investigated in Study 2. It was found that Appalachian students experienced more externalized tethering. Women and individuals from larger families experienced more social tethering. Externalized tethering was found to be associated with a lower grade point average, while there were no negative correlates of social tethering. The most negative student outcomes including lower grade point average and high levels of fear of success and isolation was found in students who experienced ecological tethering. Implications for student persistence and retention, especially that of college students experiencing ecological tethering, are discussed.