Latent Profiles of Belonging and Support Among First-Generation College Students: Associations With Career Development

This study used a person-centered approach to examine the patterns of belonging and support in first-generation college students (FGCSs). Using latent profile analysis with a sample of 361 FGCSs, we identified six distinct profiles based on three indicators, namely sense of belonging on campus, on-campus mentoring support, and family support, reflecting the social-emotional experiences guided by the critical cultural wealth model (Garriott, 2020). The six profiles were (1) Thriving ( n = 24; 6.6%), (2) High Support ( n = 149; 41.3%), (3) Moderate Support ( n = 117; 32.4%), (4) Campus-Anchored ( n = 17; 4.7%), (5) Family-Anchored ( n = 34; 9.4%), and (6) Low Support ( n = 20; 5.5%). Significant differences were observed across profiles in career self-efficacy and career engagement. In addition, profiles differed in meaningful involvement in on-campus extracurricular activities. Implications for counselors, educators, and institutional leaders are discussed.