Student drop out and feelings of belonging and mattering in UK undergraduate allied health students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi31.1172Keywords:
mattering, belonging, dropout, attritionAbstract
Student belonging is well researched, with links identified between a sense of belonging in students and student experience, satisfaction, and student persistence. Mattering refers to an individual student’s perception that they are noticed and valued, and it is less well researched. This research investigates levels of belonging and mattering across the academic and the clinical environment in undergraduate Allied Health professional students and the correlation with students who have seriously considered dropping out. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was distributed to undergraduate students enrolled on Allied Health programmes at one UK university. The questionnaires utilised four previously validated Likert scales measuring feelings of: mattering in the university environment (Elliott, Kao and Grant, 2004), mattering in the clinical placement environment (Elliott, Kao and Grant, 2004); belonging in the university environment (Yorke, 2016); and belonging in the clinical placement environment using the Belongingness Scale−Clinical Placement Experience (BS−CPE) (Levett-Jones et al., 2009). Participants were also asked whether they had seriously considered dropping out from their studies. An analysis of the 264 completed questionnaires showed that students who had seriously considered dropping out had significantly lower scores for all four scales. This research demonstrates that feelings of belonging and mattering may impact on the student’s intention to persist with their studies. For students attending clinical placement as part of their studies, attention needs to be given to supporting students to feel that they belong in the clinical placement environment and that they matter to clinical staff and their peers during placements.
References
Ahn, M.Y. and Davis, H.H. (2023) ‘Students’ sense of belonging and their socio-economic status in higher education: a quantitative approach’, Teaching in Higher Education, 28(1), pp. 136−149. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2020.1778664
Austen, L., Hodgson, R., Heaton, C., Pickering, N. and Dickinson, J. (2021) ‘Access, retention, attainment and progression: an integrative review of demonstrable impact on student outcomes’. Advance HE. https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/access-retention-attainment-and-progression-review-literature-2016-2021
Baumeister, R. and Leary, M. (1995) ‘The need to belong: desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation’, Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), pp. 497−529.
Borrott, N., Day, G.E., Sedgwick, M. and Levett-Jones, T. (2016) ‘Nursing students’ belongingness and workplace satisfaction: quantitative findings of a mixed methods study’, Nurse Education Today, 45, pp. 29−34. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2016.06.005
Boyd-Turner, D., Bell, E. and Russell, A. (2016) ‘The influence student placement experience can have on the employment choices of graduates: a paediatric nursing context’, Nurse Education in Practice, 16(1), pp. 263−268. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.10.001
Bridge, P. and Carmichael, M.A. (2014) ‘Factors influencing radiation therapy student clinical placement satisfaction’, Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 61(1), pp. 45−50. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.41
Colyer, H. (2013) Improving retention of the radiotherapy workforce—the role of practice placements in student attrition from pre-registration programmes in England: full report. Society and College of Radiographers, London. Available at: https://www.sor.org/learning-advice/professional-body-guidance-and-publications/documents-and-publications/policy-guidance-document-library/improving-retention-of-the-radiotherapy-workforce (Accessed: 2 February 2024)
Diane, R., Whiteing, N. and Aggar, C. (2023) ‘An integrative review of nursing students’ clinical placement experiences throughout their nursing degrees’, Collegian, 30(1), pp. 154−162. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2022.07.002
Dueñas, M. and Gloria, A.M. (2017) ‘“¿Pertenezco a Esta Universidad?” The mediating role of belonging for collective self-esteem and mattering for Latin@ undergraduates’, Journal of College Student Development, 58(6), pp. 891−906. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2017.0070
Elliott, G.C., Colangelo, M.F. and Gelles, R.J. (2005) ‘Mattering and suicide ideation: establishing and elaborating a relationship’, Social Psychology Quarterly, 68(3), pp. 223−238. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/019027250506800303
Elliott, G.C., Kao, S. and Grant, A.M. (2004) ‘Mattering: empirical validation of a social-psychological concept’, Self and Identity, 3(4), pp. 339−354. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13576500444000119
Fan, X., Luchok, K. and Dozier, J. (2021) ‘College students’ satisfaction and sense of belonging: differences between underrepresented groups and the majority groups’, SN Social Sciences, 1, pp. 1−22. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-020-00026-0
Flett, G.L. (2018) The psychology of mattering: understanding the human need to be significant. London: Academic Press.
Flett, G.L. (2022) ‘An introduction, review, and conceptual analysis of mattering as an essential construct and an essential way of life’, Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 40(1), pp. 3−36. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/07342829211057640
France, M.K. and Finney, S.J. (2010) ‘Conceptualization and utility of university mattering: a construct validity study’, Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 43(1), pp. 48−65. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0748175610362369
Hagerty, B.M., Lynch-Sauer, J., Patusky, K.L., Bouwsema, M. and Collier, P. (1992) ‘Sense of belonging: a vital mental health concept’, Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 6(3), pp. 172−177. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/0883-9417(92)90028-H
Hallam, I. (2023) ‘College higher education commuter students’ experiences of belonging, mattering and persisting with their studies’, Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 28(3), pp. 1−17. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2221116
Hamshire, C., Willgoss, T.G. and Wibberley, C. (2012) ‘“The placement was probably the tipping point”—The narratives of recently discontinued students’, Nurse Education in Practice, 12(4), pp. 182−186. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2011.11.004
Hoffman, M., Richmond, J., Morrow, J. and Salomone, K. (2002) ‘Investigating “sense of belonging” in first-year college students’, Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 4(3), pp. 227−256. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2190/DRYC-CXQ9-JQ8V-HT4V
Höhne, E. and Zander, L. (2019) ‘Belonging uncertainty as predictor of dropout intentions among first-semester students of the computer sciences’, Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft, 22(5), pp. 1099−1119. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11618-019-00907-y
IBM Corporation. (2021) IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (Version 28.0) [Statistical analysis software]. Available at: https://www.ibm.com/products/spss-statistics
Laerd Statistics (2013) Statistical Test Selector. Available at: https://statistics.laerd.com/premium/sts/index.php (Accessed: 02 February 2022).
Laerd Statistics (2023) Cronbach’s alpha using SPSS statistics: statistical tutorials and software guides. Available at: https://statistics.laerd.com/premium/spss/reliability-ca/cronbachs-alpha-in-spss.php (Accessed: 11 August 2023).
Levett-Jones, T. and Lathlean, J. (2009) ‘“Don’t rock the boat”: Nursing students’ experiences of conformity and compliance’, Nurse Education Today, 29(3), pp. 342−349. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2008.10.009
Levett-Jones, T., Lathlean, J., Higgins, I. and McMillan, M. (2008) ‘The duration of clinical placements: a key influence on nursing students’ experience of belongingness’, Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(2), pp. 8−16.
Levett-Jones, T., Lathlean, J., Higgins, I. and McMillan, M. (2009) ‘Development and psychometric testing of the Belongingness Scale–Clinical Placement Experience: an international comparative study’, Collegian, 16(3), pp. 153−162. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2009.04.004
Malone, G.P., Pillow, D.R. and Osman, A. (2012) ‘The General Belongingness Scale (GBS): assessing achieved belongingness’, Personality and Individual Differences, 52(3), pp. 311−316. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.10.027
Marshall, S.K. (2001) ‘Do I Matter? Construct validation of adolescents’ perceived mattering to parents and friends’, Journal of Adolescence, 24(4), pp. 473−490. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.2001.0384
Maslow, A.H. (1954) ‘The instinctoid nature of basic needs’, Journal of Personality, 22(3), pp. 326−347. Available at: https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1954.tb01136.x
McCall, L., Wray, N. and McKenna, L. (2009) ‘Influence of clinical placement on undergraduate midwifery students’ career intentions’, Midwifery, 25(4), pp. 403−410. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2007.07.008
McKenna, L., Gilmour, C., Biro, M.A., McIntyre, M., Bailey, C., Jones, J., Miles, M., Hall, H. et al. (2013) ‘Undergraduate midwifery students’ sense of belongingness in clinical practice’, Nurse Education Today, 33(8), pp. 880−883. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2012.09.009
Nemoto, T. and Beglar, D. (2014) ‘Developing Likert-scale questionnaires’. In N. Sonda & A. Krause (Eds.) JALT2013 Conference Proceedings. Tokyo: JALT 1−8. Available at: https://jalt-publications.org/sites/default/files/pdf-article/jalt2013_001.pdf (Accessed: 2 February 2024)
NHS (2019) The NHS Long Term Plan. Available at: https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/nhs-long-term-plan-version-1.2.pdf. (Accessed: 2 February 2024)
O’Brien, W. (1996) ‘Meaning and mattering’, The Southern Journal of Philosophy, 34(3), pp. 339−360.
Pallant, J. (2007) SPSS survival manual. 3rd edn. Berkshire: Open University Press.
Pedler, M.L., Willis, R. and Nieuwoudt, J.E. (2022) ‘A sense of belonging at university: student retention, motivation and enjoyment’, Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46(3), pp. 397−408. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1955844
Prilleltensky, I. (2020) ‘Mattering at the intersection of psychology, philosophy, and politics’, American Journal of Community Psychology, 65(1−2), pp. 16−34. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12368
Richards, A.R., Gaudreault, K.L. and Woods, A.M (2017) ‘Understanding physical educators’ perceptions of mattering: validation of the Perceived Mattering Questionnaire—Physical Education’, European Physical Education Review, 23(1), pp. 73−90. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X16637320
Rosenberg, M. and McCullough, B.C. (1981) ‘Mattering: inferred significance and mental health among adolescents’, Research in Community and Mental Health, 2, pp. 163−182.
Russell, L. and Jarvis, C. (2019) ‘Student withdrawal, retention and their sense of belonging: their experience in their words’, Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, 4(3), pp. 494−525. Available at: https://doi.org/10.30828/real/2019.3.3
Schlossberg, N.K. (1989) ‘Marginality and mattering: key issues in building community’, New Directions for Student Services, 48(1), pp. 5−15.
Sidi, Y. and Harel, O. (2018) ‘The treatment of incomplete data: reporting, analysis, reproducibility, and replicability’, Social Science and Medicine, 209, pp. 169−173. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.05.037
Somers, M.D. (1999) Development and preliminary validation of a measure of belongingness. Unpublished PhD. Philadelphia: Temple University.
Suhlmann, M., Sassenberg, K., Nagengast, B. and Trautwein, U. (2018) ‘Belonging mediates effects of student-university fit on well-being, motivation, and dropout intention’, Social Psychology, 49(1), pp. 16−28. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-9335/a000325
Taber, K.S. (2018) ‘The use of Cronbach’s alpha when developing and reporting research instruments in science education’, Research in Science Education, 48(6), pp. 1273−1296. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-016-9602-2
Tavakol, M. and Dennick, R. (2011) ‘Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha’, International Journal of Medical Education, 2, pp. 53−55. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.4dfb.8dfd
Theofanidis, D. and Fountouki, A. (2018) ‘Limitations and delimitations in the research process’, Perioperative Nursing-Quarterly Scientific, Online Official Journal of GORNA, 7(3: September−December 2018), pp. 155−163. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2552022
Thomas, E. (2012) Building student engagement and belonging in higher education at a time of change: final report from the What Works? Student Retention and Success programme. London: Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
Tight, M. (2020) ‘Student retention and engagement in higher education’, Journal of Further and Higher Education, 44(5), pp. 689−704. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2019.1576860
Tovar, E., Simon, M.A. and Lee, H.B. (2009) ‘Development and validation of the college mattering inventory with diverse urban college students’, Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 42(3), pp. 154−178. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0748175609344091
Wolf, K., Maurer, C. and Kunter, M. (2021) ‘I don’t really belong here’, Zeitschrift für Entwicklungspsychologie und Pädagogische Psychologie, 53(1-2), pp.1-14. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1026/0049-8637/a000233
Yeoh, H.C., Hong, S.P.L. and Prihadi, K.D. (2022) ‘Efficacy, expectancy, or the sense of mattering? Academic procrastination in online study’, International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 11(3), pp. 1311−1317. Available at: https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v11i3.22964
Yorke, M. (2016) ‘The development and initial use of a survey of student “belongingness”, engagement and self-confidence in UK higher education’, Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 41(1), pp. 154−166. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2014.990415
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
