A Latent Growth Modeling Analysis of the Effects of Perceived Supports,Perceived Barriers,and Coping Efficacy on Latina/o Engineering Students’ Life Satisfaction

Abstract

Using latent growth modeling (LGM) procedures, this study tested a model of Latina/o engineering students’ life satisfaction based on Lent and Brown’s social cognitive well-being model with a sample of 342 Latina/o engineering students attending a Hispanic-serving institution. Participants completed measures of perceived supports, perceived barriers, and coping efficacy at 3 points, each approximately 1 year apart, and life satisfaction at Time 3. The results indicated that perceived supports, perceived barriers, and coping efficacy changed across time. Specifically, perceived supports and coping efficacy decreased and perceived barriers increased over time. Individual differences were found in the growth patterns of these constructs, with participants with low perceived supports and coping efficacy at Time 1 demonstrating more decrease and those with low perceived barriers at Time 1 demonstrating more increase in these variables over time. In the multivariate LGM analysis, the proposed model fit the data, but only partial support was found for the relations among the variables. Specifically, high perceived barriers were negatively related to low coping efficacy, high perceived supports were positively related to high coping efficacy, and high coping efficacy was positively related to high life satisfaction. However, coping efficacy did not mediate the relations between supports and barriers to life satisfaction. Finally, growth in perceived barriers was negatively related to the decline of coping efficacy. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.