Time and money explain social class differences in students’ social integration at university

an article by Mark Rubin (University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia) and Chrysalis L. Wright (University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA) published in Studies in Higher Education Volume 42 Issue 2 (February 2017)

Abstract

Working-class students tend to be less socially integrated at university than middle-class students. The present research investigated two potential reasons for this working-class social exclusion effect.

First, working-class students may have fewer finances available to participate in social activities.

Second, working-class students tend to be older than middle-class students and, consequently, they are likely to have more work and/or childcare commitments.

These additional commitments may prevent them from attending campus which, in turn, reduces their opportunity for social integration.

These predictions were confirmed among undergraduate students at an Australian university (N = 433) and a US university (N = 416).

Strategies for increasing working-class students' social integration at university are discussed.

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