Cultura y colegio : Latina/o cultural values, acculturation, cultural fit, psychological well-being and academic persistence in Mexican American college students

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on July 29, 2009)Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2008.This study examined the influence of cultural variables, such as Latino cultural values, cultural fit, Anglo-oriented and Mexican- oriented acculturation, on the perceptions of psychological well-being and persistence of 440 Mexican American college students. Two simultaneous regression analyses indicated that congruence of personal values and university values and positive perceptions of the university environment significantly predicted students' positive psychological well-being. The regression model accounted for 40% of the variance in psychological well-being. The second regression analysis indicated that high adherence to Latino cultural values, positive perceptions of the university, and positive psychological functioning predicted 30% of the variance in students' persistence decisions. Educational, institutional, and counseling implications are discussed which focus on acknowledging Mexican American students' culture as a strength in their educational experiences.Includes bibliographical reference