Psychosocial Factors Associated With Dropout, Performance and Adjustment in University First Year: A Systematic Review of Reviews
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15359/ree.28-2.18435Keywords:
Systematic review, dropouts, undergraduate students, performance, student adjustment, Academic success, human capital, SDG 4, SDG 8Abstract
Objective. The current systematic review of reviews looked to identify psychosocial factors of dropout, adjustment and academic performance in first year university students and with thereby contribute to a current and comprehensive identification of factors associated with university dropout in higher education institutions which could be treated. Method. A search for meta-analysis and systematic reviews with keywords and PICOS methodology was carried out in the databases Dimensions, ApaPsycnet, ERIC, EBSCO, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest. 16 of 35 studies were chosen in the base of topic consistency and R-Amstar quality test. Studies were coded according to population, psychosocial factors, design, and effect size characteristics. Conclusions. Study habits and skills; personality traits of conscientiousness and openness; motivational factors of self-efficacy, and social variables related to adjustment had the strongest relationship with academic performance. Persistence/dropout showed associations with self-regulatory (academic skills), motivational (self-efficacy, academic goals) and social (institutional attachment and institutional commitment) factors. Finally, affective factors as depression; self-regulated strategies such as support seeking; personality traits of conscientiousness and agreeableness; motivational variables of optimism and self-concept and social factors oriented to perceive social support perceived were related with college adjustment. The identified findings can contribute to the design of actions for students in need to have persistence, better adjustment and academic performance.
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