Perceptions of Retention and Adjustment in Male First-Year College Students

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between belonging to an athletic or Greek-affiliated group and first semester freshmen male college students’ (a) perceived stress, (b) level of college adjustment, (c) sense of belonging, and (d) expected retention. Thirty-first-year male college students who belonged to a collegiate group and non-members completed The Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ; Baker & Siryk, 1984, 1989), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; Cohen, Kamarck, & Mermelstein, 1983), a demographic questionnaire assessing additional retention and adjustment factors, and questions from the Sense of Belonging to Campus Scale (Hurtado & Carter, 1997). On average, students reported low adjustment levels. Stress levels were similar for each group. Non-members reported higher sense of belonging. Athletes appear to have reported a slightly higher Sense of Belonging than fraternity members. Students who intended to return reported moderate stress. Members of a collegiate group reported lower expected retention than non-members.