Perceived Life Balance and Cultural Experience on Academic Outcomes

A Comparative Study of First-generation Students in South Africa and Canada

Authors

Keywords:

first-generation, balance, resilience, resourcefulness, student success

Abstract

Not much is known about how first-generation students’ cultural experiences, resourcefulness, resilience and their belief that they are able to balance multiple roles affects their academic success. In this North-South comparative study, we examined the impact of culture and perceived ability to balance multiple academic and non-academic roles (balance belief) on academic outcomes experienced by first-generation and non-first-generation students in Canada and South Africa. We also identified the relationship between culture, balance belief, student resilience and resourcefulness and academic outcomes (grades, adjustment and academic self-efficacy). While academic behaviours were similar across countries and similar between students who are and are not first-generation, some non-academic roles differed. Further, for all students, greater balance belief had a small positive effect on grades, university adjustment and academic self-efficacy. When balance belief was combined with students’ academic resourcefulness, predictions of grades, especially for first-generation students from South Africa, were improved. Interventions that improve balance belief may aid students in each country; but understanding cultural experiences related to resourcefulness and resilience is importance since their association with balance belief vary between country and first-generation status.

Keywords: first-generation, balance, resilience, resourcefulness, student success

Author Biographies

Dr Elizabeth S. Ndofirepi, University of the Witwatersrand

Lecturer and Academic Advisor, Office of Student Success, Faculty of Health Sciences

Raazia Moosa, University of the Witwatersrand

Head Academic Support

Prof. Maureen J. Reed, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

Professor, Department of Pyschology

Mandivavarira Maodzwa-Taruvinga, University of the Witwatersrand

Senior Tutor, Curriculum Division, School of Education, Faculty of Humanities

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Published

2023-08-01

How to Cite

Ndofirepi, E. S., Moosa, R., Reed, M. J., & Maodzwa-Taruvinga, M. (2023). Perceived Life Balance and Cultural Experience on Academic Outcomes: A Comparative Study of First-generation Students in South Africa and Canada. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the South, 7(2), 21–45. Retrieved from https://journals.uj.ac.za/SOTL/index.php/sotls/article/view/284

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Section

Peer-reviewed articles