Impact of First-Generation Status, Living in an LLC, and Campus Club Involvement on Sense of Belonging in the First Semester (Jones & Morrow, 2022)

This study examined the impact of first-generation status, living in a living-learning community (LLC), and campus club involvement on the sense of belonging among first-year college students in their first semester. The results showed that campus club involvement was a significant predictor of sense of belonging on all four subscales. Students who were more involved in campus clubs reported higher levels of perceived peer support, classroom comfort, and faculty support, as well as lower levels of perceived isolation. Living in an LLC was also found to be a significant predictor of perceived peer support, but not the other three subscales. Interestingly, first-gen status did not emerge as a significant predictor of sense of belonging on any of the subscales. These findings highlight the important role that campus involvement plays in fostering a sense of belonging among first-year students, particularly in their first semester.