University of Twente Student Theses
Navigating the Workplace: Problems, Perceived Support, and Need-Satisfaction of First-Generation Students During Their Internship
Schlamann, Viola (2024) Navigating the Workplace: Problems, Perceived Support, and Need-Satisfaction of First-Generation Students During Their Internship.
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| Abstract: | Students who are the first in their families to attend university are considered first-generation students (FGS). Previous research has shown that the experiences of FGS at university differ from those of continuous-generation students (CGS), whose parents attempted an academic career and went to university. Not much research has investigated whether differences persist when students transition to their first professional workplace. This study presents longitudinal data of 87 psychology master’s students during their first professional internship, marking the transition to the workplace. Psychological need-satisfaction and problems experienced at the internship were measured in 19-24 weekly diary measures. A starting survey identified students’ generational status and their perceived sources of support during the internship, focusing on perceived internship supervisor support and support from friends. It was expected that FGS would experience more problems at the internship and therefore experience less autonomy, competence, and relatedness than CGS. Statistical analyses of aggregated data revealed that FGS did not experience more problems throughout the internship but felt less competent towards the internship’s end compared to CGS. Perceived sources of support were expected to differ across generational status and to moderate the negative effect of FGS students experiencing more problems during the internship. This was partly confirmed by showing that FGS perceived their friends as a stronger source of support than CGS. However, no interaction was found between generational status and perceived sources of support for the problems experienced. Whether problems were experienced at the internship was more influential for their need-satisfaction than generational status. More research is needed aiming to further define factors influencing workplace transitions of FGS to promote equity in professional successes regardless of parental backgrounds. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/100457 |
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