Retention of First-Generation College Students: Exploring the Effect of Mental Health

The retention of First-Generation College Students is an issue faced across different universities in the United States. FGCS are faced with various challenges that impact their enrollment in post-secondary institutions and these challenges are presented as the factors that affect retention in this study. This study attempts to analyze the three factors that affect the retention of FGCS which are mental health, financial well-being, and social support. Drawing participants, from a post-secondary program run by the Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas who attend colleges in West Central Texas. This study used a cross-sectional survey design to collect and analyze data from 12 students. The findings show that out of the three examined factors, psychological well- being had a moderating effect on the outcome variable retention risk which supported hypothesis one. The other two factors had no impact on the study, although social support could be significant if sample size was bigger. The major limitation to this study was the sample size. However, the limitations in the study findings imply the need for services that support the psychological well- being of FGCS. It also implies the need for further research to be conducted for a more specific conclusion and is reflective of a larger sample size