Thesis
Psychological flexibility, stereotype threat, and college efficacy in minority college students
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2014
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100427
Abstract
People who belong to a group for which a negative stereotype exists often experience changes in their performance as a result of their group membership. One proposed mechanism for these changes is known as stereotype threat. Stereotype threat is a situational threat whereby people experience distress that, through their behavior, they might confirm a negative stereotype that is held about a social group or class to which they belong. The anxiety that results from this distress can have profound negative consequences on performance, which, paradoxically, can reinforce the negative stereotype. In the college setting, student performance is often influenced by a variety of social factors that may trigger stereotype threats. This study examined the role of 1) psychological flexibility, which is a group of processes that include a person’s ability to adapt to differing environmental demands, allocate mental resources, adapt to different perspectives, and prioritize conflicting needs and goals, and 2) stereotype threat on students’ beliefs in their ability to be successful in college. The results from 228 White/Caucasian students and 109 minority students indicate students’ college self-efficacy was negatively related to stereotype awareness and positively related to psychological flexibility. Compared to White/Caucasian students, minority students were less likely to believe they could be successful in school and more likely to experience psychological inflexibility. Lastly, minority students’ college self-efficacy was more compromised than that of White/Caucasian students when either group expected to experience racial stereotyping. Testing the function of minority status in this relationship is significant progress toward laying a foundation for a theory-driven intervention designed to have a positive effect of the performance of college students and especially the performance of students who are more likely to be affected by stereotype endorsement.
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Details
- Title
- Psychological flexibility, stereotype threat, and college efficacy in minority college students
- Creators
- Jaimie Jeffords
- Contributors
- Laura G. Hill (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Human Development, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525098401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis