Is Belonging Stable Over Time?: A Four-Year Longitudinal Examination of University Belonging Differences Among Students

Abstract

Sense of belonging is crucial for thriving in various contexts and must be maintained over time. However, we know little about how belonging fluctuates. In education, changes in school belonging differ by gender identity. Unfortunately, this evidence does not assess differences by racial identity or socioeconomic status. Because low belonging among students that espouse minoritized racial socioeconomic identities is a pervasive concern, it is important to understand how it functions among diverse groups. Via growth curve modeling this study explores changes in university belonging among individuals (Ns = 136, MT1age = 19 years) from diverse backgrounds (Black 16%, Latinx 15%, Asian 19%, White 34%, Native American 3%, Multiracial 13%; 36% low-income; 61% female identifying) over 4 years of college.