Perceived Social Support and Engagement in First-Year Students: The Mediating Role of Belonging during COVID-19

Jorge Maluenda-Albornoz (), José Berríos-Riquelme, Valeria Infante-Villagrán and Karla Lobos-Peña
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Jorge Maluenda-Albornoz: Facultad de Psicología y Humanidades, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Concepción, Concepción 4080871, Chile
José Berríos-Riquelme: Departamento de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Tarapacá, Iquique 1113749, Chile
Valeria Infante-Villagrán: Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, Chile
Karla Lobos-Peña: Escuela de Psicología, Facultad de Educación y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Andrés Bello, Concepción 4300004, Chile

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Academic engagement and the conditions that favor it have become relevant in recent decades due to their relationship with academic performance, well-being, and university permanence. Variables such as perceived social support and sense of belonging are relevant aspects of social integration to promote engagement. Evidence shows both variables predicting engagement. In addition, the available evidence suggests this possible mediating role, which requires further analysis in freshmen in the emergency teaching context due to the COVID-19. The present study aims to evaluate the mediating role of sense of belonging in the relationship between perceived social support and engagement in university students. Results showed significant predictive relationships between social integration variables and engagement and showed the mediating role of sense of belonging in the relation between perceived social support and the three types of engagement. These results suggest the relevance for degree programs to consider these social integration variables as a key element for university freshmen.

Keywords: engagement; sense of belonging; social support; freshmen; university (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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